Chapter 2 - The Creation of Law Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

UK constitution elements

A
The legislature (Parliament)
The executive (Government)
The Judiciary (Judges)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Judicial review

A

Judges have the power to review decisions of the government ministers and other decision makers to check that they have acted within their legal powers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Parliamentary sovereignty

A

A principle of UK constitution which makes Parliament the supreme legal authority in the UK, with power to create or end any Law.
***
The doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty states that no Parliament may pass a law
which will bind subsequent parliaments.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Parliament

A

The legislature of the UK –> key function to make laws.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Houses in Parliament

A

House of Lords

House of Commons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The Crown (The Queen) in Parliament

A

She has certain formal roles such as opening of Parliament and giving the royal assent to Bills

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The Judiciary

A

The judges.

Their role is to apply the law to decide the cases brought before them in the courts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The Executive

A

Government - make decisions and run the country.

Government ministers are elected in General Election and to lead Government they have to have majority (at least 326)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Separation of Powers

A

The doctrine that the liberty of the individuals can be protected only if the 3 main functions of the state are exercised by distinct and independent organs.

In the United Kingdom, however, the doctrine is only partly applied. The Executive
(government) led by the Prime Minister consists of Members of Parliament (the
Legislature). The Judiciary are independent of Parliament and the government.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

House of Commons

A

House has 650 members elected in General Election.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

House of Lords

A

The House is made up of unelected peers. Most of them are appointed but some are hereditary (inherited). It also includes some Church of England bishops.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The Bill

A

it is a draft of the law which is considered by Parliament.

Bill sections call - Clauses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Bill types

A
Bill can fall across in number of classifications.
***
By subject: 
Public (all country); Private; Hybrid.
By  Originator:
Government; Private Members
By Purpose:
Law reform; Consolidation (reorganize)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Primary sources of law

A

Act of Parliament/Statute

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Secondary sources of law - Delegated legislation

A

Law made by Government minister or other body under powers given to then by a statute.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Delegated legislation types

A

Statutory instruments are the most important category and include regulations, rules and orders.

Bye-laws are created by local authorities or organizations such as Transport for London.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Ultra vires

A

Beyond its/his/her powers.

This concept is used in Judicial review cases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

An Act of Parliament

A

Also known as Statute. A document that sets our legal rules that has passed through the Houses of Parliament and been formally agreed by the Crown (the Queen)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

The Law Commission

A

A politically - independent organization established under the Law Commissions Act 1965 which reviews and reforms the law

20
Q

Green paper

A

Drafts of the Governmental proposals for the creation of a new Act.
The Doc is circulated to interested parties who are invited to comment

21
Q

White Paper

A

A doc published by the Government when the consultation process is complete which sets out their proposals for the new law and the reasons for them.

22
Q

Bills By Subject

A

PRIVATE - a Bill which proposes new law which affects a limited geographical area or limited group of people or an institution

PUBLIC - Bill which affects the whole country

HYBRID - particularly affects certain individuals or locations

23
Q

The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949

A

Acts if Parliament which limit the scope of the House of Lords to block bills approved by the House of Commons

24
Q

Stages in creation of Act of Parliament

A
1  2  C  R  3
********
1 - 1st reading 
2 - 2nd reading
C - Committee Stage 
R - Report Stage
3 - 3rd Reading
25
Q

1st reading

A

Formal presentation of the Bill to Parliament

26
Q

2nd reading

A

The Purpose of the Bill and the means proposed for giving it effect are debated

27
Q

Committee Stage

A

Each clause of the Bill is examined in detail and may be amended or deleted by a committee.

Committee will be English MPs (or Eng+Welsh) only in the House of Commons if a Speaker’s certificate has been issued.

28
Q

Report Stage

A

A Bill is formally reported back to the House of Commons or the House of Lords

29
Q

3rd Reading

A

A Bill is reviewed in its final form by he House of Commons or the House of Lords and minor amendments only are debated and voted on.

30
Q

Consideration of Amendments

A

The House in which the Bill was 1st introduced will consider the amendments of the other House.

If they are not agreed, a “ping-pong” process will take place until both Houses have agreed all the changes.

31
Q

Royal Assent

A

A Bill is formally signed and authorized by the Queen and becomes and Act of Parliament

32
Q

Statutory instruments

A

Delegated legislation including:

  • Regulations
  • Rules
  • Orders
  • Orders in council
33
Q

Bye-laws

A

Laws made under delegated legislation by local councils that relates to a specific area

34
Q

Orders of Council

A

Orders which are made by the Queen and the Privy Council.

Parliament has no involvement in theater creation

35
Q

Laying before Parliament

A

Statutory instruments must be formally made available for Parliament to scrutinize

36
Q

Parliamentary control

A

Control over delegated or secondary legislation in order to prevent abuse by a government minister, local council or other authorized body/organization

37
Q

Advantages of delegated law

A

Fast
Flexible
Saves Parliamentary time
Technical and detailed

38
Q

Disadvantages of delegated law

A

Lack of democratic control
can be poorly drafted
volume
may contain obscure language

39
Q

European Court of Human Rights

A

Established in Strasbourg.

Hears cases concerning breaches of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR)

40
Q

European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR)

A

International treaty setting out fundamental human rights

The Human right act 1998 - includes articles from ECHR in Sch 1 enabling UK courts to apply the ECHR directly.

41
Q

Human Rights Act 1998

A

Through this Act UK courts are able to apply the legal rights in the European Convention of Human Rights directly to UK cases

42
Q

s2 Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA)

A

Requites UK courts to take into account decisions of the European Court of Human rights.

These decisions are not Binding on them but are “persuasive”.

43
Q

s3 Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA)

A

UK courts must so far as possible interpret all legislation in the way which makes it compatible with the European Convention of Human Rights

44
Q

s4 Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA)

A

If High, Appeal, Supreme court or Judicial Committee of the Privy council can not interpret primary legislation n (Act of Parliament) in the way that complies with the European Convention of Human Rights in Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 they must apply the Act and may make a DECLARATION OF IMCOMPATIBILITY.

45
Q

s6 Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA)

A

Only public authorities, e. g. the government or the police, are required to comply with the European Convention of Human Rights in Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998

46
Q

s7 Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA)

A

A victim of the breach of his/her rights under the European Convention of Human Rights is entitled to bring the claim against the public body which has committed the breach