Law making and influences

Question 1

What are the early stages of the legislation process?

Answer 1

1. Idea stage- Idea for new law is created.
2. Consultation stage- Parties invited to give comments.
3. Green paper- Discussion document which sets out idea.
4. White paper- Finalised version.
5. Drafting stage- Idea is written in legal terms and becomes a bill.

Question 2

What is a private bill?

Answer 2

Do not affect the whole country, usually businesses.

Question 3

What is a public bill?

Answer 3

Affect the whole country usually passed by the government. Occasionally put forward by backbench MPs.

Question 4

What are hybrid bills?

Answer 4

Combine features of private and public bills.

Question 5

What are the legislative stages?

Answer 5

1. First reading- name/main aims but no debate.
2. Second reading- main debate on the whole bill.
3. Committee stage- examination of each clause by committee who have knowledge in area of law.
4. Report stage- amendments made and report back to the house.
5. Third reading- final vote on the bill
6. House of lords- goes through same stages in the other house.
7. Royal assent- monarch gives approval.

Question 6

Advantages of the legislations process?

Answer 6

• Democratic- by represented electives.
• Full reform- reform whole law in one act.
• Broad policy- can give power to others, allows greater detail.
• Consultation- take into consideration objections and subjections.

Question 7

Disadvantages of the legislation process?

Answer 7

• Lack of time- can’t consider all reforms proposed.
• Long process- can take several months to pass.
• Government control- don’t have time for private members bills.
• Complexity- can be difficult to understand, and hard to find certain areas.

Question 8

What are pressure groups and how do they influence?

Answer 8

People who share the same cause or interest, can bed extremely large and can influence through protests, petitions.

Question 9

Examples of pressure groups?

Answer 9

Sectional group- law society, farmers union.

Cause group- shelter campaign, Greenpeace.

Question 10

What are lobbyists and how do they influence?

Answer 10

Individuals try to persuade particular MPs to support their cause, people can also pay professional lobbyists to put their ideas forwards. Usually done on backbench MPs who can put ideas forward.

Question 11

How does the media/public influence?

Answer 11

Usually occurs close to election time when government wants to be elected.
Media may campaign for a change in the law but need the public’s support.

Question 12

Successful and unsuccessful example of media campaigns?

Answer 12

Successful- dangerous dogs act 1991.

Unsuccessful- naming paedophiles + photos didn’t completely change.

Question 13

How does the european union influence law and an example?

Answer 13

UK must change the law to keep up with the EU directives.

An example is sex discrimination act 1986.

Question 14

How do manifestos influence the law and example?

Answer 14

Political parties write these to outline laws they will pass should they win. Only around 8% become law.
Example is human rights act.

Question 15

How do private members bills influence the law and an example?

Answer 15

A back-bench MP can put their ideas forward in attempt to make them law. An example is abolition of the death penalty by Sidney Silverman.