AC1.1 Describe processes used for law making

Question 1

What is the government and what is its role?

Answer 1

The government is made up of the political party with the majority of 650 MPs and the prime minister is the leader of the majority party. Their job is to run the country. Most proposals for new laws come from the government

Question 2

What is parliament made up of?

Answer 2

• The house of commons, made up of MP’s voted in by the public
• House of lords, contains those from families who are born lords or who have been appointed lords

Question 3

Who is the monarch and what is their role?

Answer 3

This is the king or queen and they are the head of state in the UK. All bills must be approved by them for a new law to be passed, although they can’t refuse the bill anymore.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the green paper?

Answer 4

Allows for public discussion

Question 5

What is the purpose of the white paper?

Answer 5

It discloses formal proposals and allows a draft to be presented to parliament.

Question 6

What is the order of the parliamentary stages of passing a bill?

Answer 6

• First reading
• Second reading
• Committee stage
• Report stage
• Third reading
• Royal assent

Question 7

Summarise what happens in the first reading

Answer 7

The name of the bill and its main points are read out and a formal vote is taken.

Question 8

Summarise what happens in the second reading

Answer 8

This is where the main debate of the bill is had followed by a vote

Question 9

Summarise what happens in the committee stage

Answer 9

a group of representatives look at the bill independently and suggest possible changes along with addressing any issues with the bill.

Question 10

Summarise what happens in the report stage

Answer 10

The committee report back and votes can be taken on the proposed amendments.

Question 11

Summarise what happens in the third reading

Answer 11

This is the final chance to discuss and vote on the bill.

Question 12

What happens after the third reading?

Answer 12

The Bill goes to the other house to go through a similar process

Question 13

What happens at the royal assent?

Answer 13

The Monarch signs the bill and they can’t refuse it, the bill has now been passed

Question 14

Give an example of criminal statutes (double jeopardy)

Answer 14

The criminal justice Act 2003 introduce a change in the double jeopardy rule following Ann Ming’s successful campaign and the recommendations from the MacPherson report on the murder of Steven Lawrence. The change in law allowed the killer of Ann Ming’s daughters and Stephen Lawrence’s killer to be tried a second team and both were convicted