Assessment 1 Parliamentary Law making

Question 1

What are the 5 influences on Parliament?

Answer 1

Political 
Public opinion
Media
Pressure groups 
Lobbyists

Question 2

How does “political” influence parliament?

Answer 2

Each party (conservative currently) have a party manifesto and there is pressure for parties when they are elected into power to go through with their proposed manifesto

Examples: brexit had major influence on elections

Question 3

What are the ADV + DIS on “political” influencing Parliament?

Answer 3

+ Respects democracy as parties want to be re-elected so should follow through with their manifesto

• Manifestos are not always followed as there is nothing to say they have to be followed
• When coalitions occur (such as Lib Dem + Conservative) there is sometimes conflicting manifestos and ideas.

Question 4

How do pressure groups influence Parliament?

Answer 4

There is “cause pressure groups” who bargain for one single cause e.g RSPCA (Hunting bill) and “sectional pressure groups” who bargain for a group in society e.g Nurse’s strikes or trade unions

Question 5

What are the ADV + DIS for pressure groups influencing Parliament?

Answer 5

+ Public matters/affairs are argued.
+ Can cause a lot of pressure on Gov.
+ There is often large memberships

• Sometimes can be insignificant
• Need a large backing to gain momentum
• Can’t force change

Question 6

How does the “media” influence Parliament?

Answer 6

Media can place pressure on Gov through forms such as social media or newspapers for example Sarah’s Law argues for greater awareness of sexual offenders

Question 7

What are the ADV + DIS of the media influencing Parliament?

Answer 7

+ They report on Parliamentary law making
+ Can reflect public opinion

• Can be biased and change public opinions on certain matters
• Often criticise Parliament heavily
• Newspapers are reactionary to events in society

Question 8

How does “public opinion” influence Parliament?

Answer 8

The public have an opinion which can influence Parliament on what the public wants to change. For example, the LGBTQ+ school protests.

Question 9

What are the ADV + DIS of “public opinion” influencing Parliament?

Answer 9

+ Can be a majority who have a common aim
+ Large events can affect the law

• Can be volatile and create pressure e.g protests
• Public opinion is constantly changing, what they want to change may vary each day.

Question 10

What are “lobbyists” and how do they influence Parliament?

Answer 10

Lobbyists stand in the lobby of Parliament and try to gain MP’s backing on a certain topic, people can also write to their MP’s for a cause. For example Amber Wood.

Question 11

What are the ADV + DIS of “lobbyists” influencing Parliament?

Answer 11

+ They can bring issues to the attention of MP’s
+ Lobbying is available to everyone

• MP’s are sometimes found to be bribed
• Lobbyists can often be paid to lobby a cause/issue
• Large businesses benefit more from lobbying as they can pay for lobbyists.

Question 12

Name each stage of the legislative process (flow of a bill)?

Answer 12

Green paper 
White paper 
First reading 
Second reading 
Committee stage 
Report stage 
Third reading 
H of L
Royal ascent

Question 13

What happens in the green paper stage of a flow of a bill?

Answer 13

Minister with special interests e.g Gav Williamson for education will issue the matter.

Question 14

What happens in the white paper stage of the legislative process?

Answer 14

There are firm proposals for a new bill.

Question 15

What happens in the first reading stage of the flow of a bill?

Answer 15

The bill is drafted and there is a formal procedure where the main aims and name of the bill are read out.

Question 16

What happens in the “second reading” stage of the flow of a bill?

Answer 16

The first debate takes place on the bill and the bill is examined in detail. A vote then occurs on the bill.

Question 17

What happens in the “Committee stage” of the flow of a bill?

Answer 17

16-50 MP’s examine each clause of the bill.

Question 18

What happens in the “report stage” in the flow of a bill?

Answer 18

The committee report back to the house and may propose changes to be made to the bill. The proposed changes are debated upon and voted.

Question 19

What happens in the “Third reading” in the flow of a bill?

Answer 19

There is a final vote upon the bill.

Question 20

What happens in the “H of L” stage of a bill?

Answer 20

Also known as the “other house” pass a bill through, they cannot stop a bill from passing they can only delay it.

Question 21

What happens in the “Royal Ascent”stage in the flow of a bill?

Answer 21

The Queen passes the bill, she can not decline a bill due to the Royal Ascent Act

Last Queen to refuse a bill was Queen Anne.

Question 22

What are the 4 types of bills?

Answer 22

Public bill
Private bill
Private members bill
Hybrid bill

Question 23

What is a public bill with an example?

Answer 23

A public bill focuses on public policy e.g what the Gov want to change and this will impact the public as a whole.

An example of this is the Theft Act

Question 24

What is a private bill with an example?

Answer 24

A private bill has a smaller impact on the public and may only affect certain people/group of society.

An example of this is the Whitehaven Harbour Act

Question 25

What is a Private Members bill with an example?

Answer 25

A private members bill is a bill which is put forward by an MP who wants to change parts of the law.

An example of this is the Abortion Act.

Question 26

What is a hybrid bill with an example?

Answer 26

A hybrid bill is introduced by the Gov and is a cross between a public + private bill.

An example of this is the HS2 (Speed rail)

Question 27

What are the 4 main ADV of the legislative process?

Answer 27

Democratic
Full reform
Broad policy
Consultation

Question 28

What are the 4 main DISADVANTAGES of the legislative process?

Answer 28

Lack of time
Long process
Government control
Complexity