Acts of Parliament

Question 1

Facts ref Acts of Parliament

Answer 1

Highest form of law in England
Enacted will of Parliament
Deal with social and economic policy

Question 2

Features of legislative process

Answer 2

Effective
Efficient
Democratic

Question 3

Four phase of legislative process

Answer 3

Proposal
Consultation
Drafting
Enactment

Question 4

Sources of legislative proposal

Answer 4

Government
Advisory agencies
Pressure groups
Individual MPs
EU initiatives, treaty obligations, court rulings

Question 5

Government legislation proposals

Answer 5

Introduce most new legislation - Public Bills
Manifesto content
Routine - finance acts (Budget)
Emergency - Criminal Justice (Terrorism & Conspiracy Act 1998)
Arise from Cabinet discussions
Source - democratically elected, therefore efficient, effective, democratic

Question 6

Advisory Agencies

Answer 6

standing (permanent) - Law Commission, keeps law under review, recommends reforms
ad hoc Royal Commissions - set up by govt to examine matters of public concern

Question 7

How do advisory agencies work

Answer 7

expertise - therefore efficient & effective
consultation = democratic

disadvantage - can be ignored by govt

Question 8

What do pressure groups do

Answer 8

influence via organised lobbying
write to MPs
contact the media
organise marches
run campaigns

Regulated following Nolan Committee on standards in public life 1994

Question 9

Types of pressure group

Answer 9

Cause - Greenpeace

Sectional - TUC, CBI

Question 10

How do pressure groups work

Answer 10

Inform & assist - enhance efficiency & effectiveness
inform & stimulate public debate
Empower weaker groups in society

Question 11

Disadvantages of pressure groups

Answer 11

well resourced groups can achieve disproportionate influence

can distort not enhance democracy

Question 12

How do individual MPs propose legislation

Answer 12

private members bills

Question 13

Features of private members bills

Answer 13

minor
technical
not controversial
lobbied to propose by pressure groups
legislation not dominated by government

Question 14

Types of bill

Answer 14

Private = personal bills

Public

Question 15

Features of private bill

Answer 15

affect only one particular area or organisation

Always start in House of Lords

Question 16

Features of public Bills

Answer 16

intended to affect the whole public
Govt bills sponsored by minister from govt dept
Private members bills from individual MP or Lord

Question 17

Process for Acts of Parliament

Answer 17

Green paper
White paper
1st reading
2nd reading
committee stage
report stage
3rd stage

repeated in other House
amendments considered
Royal Assent

Question 18

Features of Green Paper

Answer 18

tentative proposals for discussion
consultation documents
tentative
open ended timescales
few firm intentions

Question 19

Features of White Paper

Answer 19

policy statements
explanations of proposed legislation
firm proposal for implementation
public consultation

Question 20

Drafting of legislation

Answer 20

drafted by Office of Parliamentary Counsel
drafted into a Bill
increasing in volume and complexity
reduced technicality
hence reduced efficiency & effectiveness - open to interpretation by Courts

Question 21

Purpose of 1st reading

Answer 21

introduced into the House (usually Commons)
no debate
copies of bill published

Question 22

Purpose of 2nd reading

Answer 22

debate on general principles

if defeated in vote, the proceeds no further

Question 23

Purpose of committee stage

Answer 23

detailed examination
clause by clause study
individual provisions altered, overall principles remain
MPs often briefed by interested parties ref amendments they would like

Question 24

Purpose of report stage

Answer 24

amendments from committee stage are approved or rejected by the whole house
detailed debate
no further amendments allowed

Question 25

Purpose of 3rd reading

Answer 25

often follows immediately after report stage
short
substantive amendments not permitted
if bill approved, bound in green ribbon and sent to Lords, or red ribbon and sent to Commons

Question 26

Second house procedure

Answer 26

repeat of same stages in opposite house (usually Lords)
Commons must consider amendments from Lords
send to and fro until agreement (Ping pong)

Question 27

details ref Royal Assent

Answer 27

only when passed by both Houses
receives Royal Assent
becomes Act / Statute
listed in statute book
stays until repealed
Head of State (Queen) could technically reject