Legal System Legislation Flashcards
What is the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty
Parliament is the supreme law- making body in the country. Statute can amend case law, but not vice versa
What are the 2 most common types of legislation
Acts of Parliament
Statutory instruments
What are statutory instruments aka
secondary subordinate or delegated legislation,
Who makes SI
ministers and civil servants
Where do SIs have their starting point?
a reference in a given statute: a ‘parent’
Act
How are SIs made?
- ‘laid’ in draft for a period of days in an office in HOC
- ‘made’, or signed, by the minister, at which point they become law
What are council byelaws
Local laws made by local councils under an enabling provision granted by an Act of Parliament
Usually accompanied by sanction or punishment for non- observance
When can bylaw take effect
when confirmed by the appropriate minister
Types of primary legislation
- Private statutes
- Public statutes inc:
1.make/ amend law
2. Consolidating legislation
3. Codifying legislation
First part of AoP
name of the Act aka the short title
(eg. ‘the Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998’)
Types of secondary legislation
- Statutory instruments made by government ministers
- Byelaws made by local authorities
Second part of AoP
Year and chapter (no. of acts in given sequence)
What is the purpose of an AoPs long title
Explaining in more detail the subject matter
(eg. for HRA: An Act to give further effect to rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights; to make provision with respect to holders of certain judicial offices who become judges of the European Court of Human Rights; and for connected purposes)
What does the date of the act indicate
when Royal Assent was given
What is after the long title on an AoP
The enacting formula, indicating the Act has passed through the necessary constitutional process, namely approval by and consent of the monarch and Parliament.
What do the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 provide?
Can pass Bill without agreement of Lords
Can enacting formulas be different depending on the act?
Yes
What is after the enacting formula on an AoP
Organised into sections, each section has description
Often start with definitions
What is usually towards the end of an AoP?
Interpretation section
Matters relating to commencement, application and extent
What are public bills?
concern matters affecting the public as a whole
2 categories of public bills
-
Government Bills introduced by
minister as part of the Govs legislative programme - Private Members Bills: non-Government-sponsored Bills introduced by backbench MPs
How are private members bills bought about?
- ballot for the entitlement to present a Bill
- 20 MPs can present titles and nominate a date fore 2nd reading
- OR use 10-minute rule procedure/ordinary presentation
What are private bills?
Affect particular people, organisations or localities