ADVANCED INFO: Topic 1 (CJS)

Question 1

Name the order of the 9 steps of how a bill becomes law in parliament.

Answer 1

Green Paper
White Paper
First Hearing
Second Hearing
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Hearing
House of Lords
Royal Assent

Question 2

Briefly describe what happens during step 1 (green paper).

Answer 2

A paper published by a governmental department to invite discussion.

Question 3

Briefly describe what happens during step 2 (white paper).

Answer 3

Governmental department publishes paper outlining consultation and a ‘draft of the bill’.

Question 4

Briefly describe what happens during step 3 (first hearing).

Answer 4

Formally announced in House of Commons where the initial vote is held.

Question 5

Briefly describe what happens during step 4 (second hearing).

Answer 5

If it succeeds the first vote debated by MPs, a further vote is held to proceed.

Question 6

Briefly describe what happens during step 5 (committee stage).

Answer 6

Committee of MPs examine the bill in detail and changes will be made at this stage.

Question 7

Briefly describe what happens during step 6 (report stage).

Answer 7

Report from the committee is debated by House of Commons. There are votes held on any amendments.

Question 8

Briefly describe what happens during step 7 (third hearing).

Answer 8

The final hearing and final vote on whether to pass or reject a bill, at this stage no amendments can be made.

Question 9

Briefly describe what happens during step 8 (House of Lords).

Answer 9

Now, the bill goes through some steps in the House of Lords. If there are any amendments, the bill will go back to the House of Commons. If the bill is accepted by the House of Lords, it can proceed to Royal Assent.

Question 10

Briefly describe what happens during step 9 (royal assent).

Answer 10

If both the House of Commons and the House of Lords pass the bill, it goes to Royal Assent to be approved by the monarch. This then becomes an act, which becomes a law.

Question 11

What is the role of the police?

Answer 11

The police are law enforcement, divided between different constabularies across England and Wales.

• They protect the public from crime by maintaining social order and supporting the welfare of citizens
• Investigating crime
• Collecting evidence and identifying witnesses
• Arresting and questioning witnesses
• Preventing crimes from occurring

Question 12

What is the role of the courts (judiciary)?

Answer 12

The judiciary ensures that processes in the courts are followed correctly.

• They work in the courts
• Hand down sentences
• Ensure that there is a fair and just system taking place, make decisions about trials
• They are split into two different types of court- Magistrates and Crown who deal with different severities of offences.
• Magistrates Court deal with summary offences mostly, where as Crown Court deal mostly with indictable or either-way offences.

Question 13

What is the role of prisons?

Answer 13

HM Prison Service are responsible for all those in custody across England and Wales.

• They organise and run the prisons
• Support effective offender management and post-prison care
• They are responsible for rehabilitation programmes so that prisoners who are released lead law abiding lives.

Question 14

What is the role of the probation service?

Answer 14

The probation service are responsible for managing and supervising those who are serving sentences within the community, also providing support to those who are released from prison but are still serving a sentence.

• They provide support for rehabilitation and post sentence reintegration to society.
• They assess offenders in prison to prepare them for release on license to the community.
• Provide pre-sentencing reports for the courts to help guide the appropriate sentence.
• Help all offenders serving sentences in the community to meet the requirements ordered by the courts.
• Manage approved premises for offenders with a residence requirement on their sentence.