facts test 3 Flashcards
What is the proper term for parliament?
legislature
What is the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty?
Parliament is the highest legal authority in the UK
Give two reasons why parliamentary sovereignty has come under pressure in recent years.
Devolution, referendums, HRA, EU
Which year had the highest number of government bills presented to parliament?
2005-6
Why did the 2009-10 parliament have the lowest number of bills presented to it by the government?
last year of labour rule
What is another word for an Act of Parliament?
a law or statue
What is a bill?
A proposal for a new law
What is a green paper?
A government document setting out various options for legislation
What is a white paper?
Sets out a detailed proposal for legislation
What is a public bill?
Concerns general issue of public policy introduced by a government minister
How many public bills are introduced in each session?
25-30
What is included in the Queen’s Speech?
The governments legislative programme
Which body scrutinises a draft bill?
A relevant select commitee
What new initiative was introduced by the coalition government to increase scrutiny of legislation?
a public reading stage
List the 6 stages a (general) bill goes through in the House of Commons?
First reading, second reading, committee, report, third reading, house of lords stage.
What process is applied after the 6 stages have happened?
consideration of amendments
What does a committee of the whole house do?
Full house of commons considers the committee stage of a public bill
What does the term EVEL stand for and what does it mean?
English Votes for English Laws – if a bill only affects England then only English MPs can vote for it
What are the 3 routes that private members’ bills can take?
Ballot, Ten minute Rule Bill, Presentation
Give one reason why the number of private member’s bills have declined since 1997?
Government want more control over legislation, large majorities in parliament = control
What does the term secondary legislation mean?
option for government ministers to make laws through the use of a statutory instrument
Why is the UK Parliament a policy-influencing legislature?
Because parliament can only modify or reject legislative proposals/develop its own legislation on a large scale
Give 2 reasons why Parliament is dominated by the government of the day.
Government bills in the majority, parliamentary timetable controlled , whip system
