Acts Of Parliament Flashcards
What are the 3 things that Parliament consists of (2 houses + other)
House of Lords (HOL)
House of Commons (HOC)
The Crown (symbolic)
Describe the key features of the HOL
Red
Non-elected
Consists of Hereditary peers, life peers and the bishops of CofE
King is included
Describe the key features of the HOC
Green
Elected by public - democratic
Consists of Members of Parliament (MPs)
More powerful than HOL
What is the pre-legislative stage
This is where a draft of the bill is made on a green then white paper
What is the green paper
Pre-legislative
The green paper is a consultative document where the gov’s views are put forward
They allow time for consideration to stop ‘knee- jerk’ reactions (laws that don’t work)
What is the white paper
Pre-legislative
It’s for firm proposals for new laws, taking into consideration the views received from the green paper
What is a Bill
An Act of Parliament before it has been drafted of published.
What is a Public Bill
Most frequent
Usually involve matters of public policy that will affect either the whole country or a large section
What is an example of a Public Bill
Equality Act 2010
Legal Services Act 2007
Constitutional Reform Act 2005
What is a Private Bill
A law that will only affect individual people (eg. farmers) or corporations
What is an example of a Private Bill
University College London Act 1996
What is a Private Members Bill
They are introduced and sponsored by individual MPs
What is an example of a Private Members Bill
Abortion Act 1967
Marriage Act 1994
What are the five stages for creating an Act of Parliament
First Reading
Second Reading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Reading
What happens in the First Reading
Name and main aims of Bill are read out
No discussion
No vote
What happens in the Second Reading
Main debate that focuses on the main principles
At the end there will be a vote - if the majority is in favour it will progress
What happens in the Committee Stage
The Committee is made up of those with special interests in the topic (except in finance
They will thoroughly examine every clause of the Bill
Every amendment will be voted on
What happens in the Report Stage
The committee reports back to the House
Amendments will be debated - new ones can be added
If there where no amendments there will not be a report stage
What happens in the Third Reading
Final vote
No more amendments can be made
What is the Other House stage
The bill is passed to the other house where all five stages are repeated
What happens in ping-pong
The bill is passed from house to house
Amendments will be argued and debated between both houses until they come to an agreement
Includes committee stage, report stage and third reading
What is the Royal Assent
Its a formality
The monarch (king) will sign off the bill
Once done it becomes an AOP/Law
What is the Parliament Act 1911 and 1949
This is where a bill can still become an Act even if the HOL rejects is on the conditions that it is re-introduced into the HOCs and passes all the stages
What is Parliament Sovereignty
Parliamentary law is sovereign over other forms of law in England and Wales - Parliament laws overrule all others
