Legaslative Process Flashcards
What is first issued and by whom?
A Green Paper is issued by the relevant Government Minister.
What is a Green Paper?
It is a consultative document in which the government’s view is put forward with proposals for law reform.
Who can be invited and why?
Interested parties are invited to send comments.
Secondly, what may the government publish?
A White Paper, but can go ahead with draft legislation.
What is a White Paper?
It includes firm proposals for a new law to be put before Parliament.
Usually, from where should the Bill be passed?
By both Houses of Parliament
Where is the Bill usually introduced?
In the House of Commons, but may start in the House of Lords too.
What type of Bill must start in the House of Commons?
Financial Bills
If the Bill starts in the House of Commons, what happens first?
The First Reading
First Reading
It is a formal procedure where the name and aims of the Bill are read out, usually with no discussion or vote.
What is the 2nd stage?
Second Reading
Second Reading
This is where MP’s have the main debate about the principles of the Bill.
At the end of the Second Reading what must happen for the Bill to be able to proceed to the next stage?
A vote is taken in the end of the debate, and the majority must be in favour of the Billl for it to proceed tot he next stage.
What is the 3rd stage?
The Committee Stage
The Committee Stage
This is where a detailed examination of each clause of the Bill is undertaken by a Public Bill Committee, any proposed amendments are voted on and may be passed onto the next stage.
In the Committee Stage, how many MP’s are in a Public Bill Committee?
15-60 MPs
How are the political parties represented during the Committee Stage?
In proportion to the number of MPs they have in the House of Commons.
Committee Stage- how are the members of these committees chosen/
They are chosen based on expertise or interest in a particular field.
What happens to Financial Bills in the Committee Stage?
The whole House will sit in committee.
What is the fourth stage?
The Report Stage
The Report Stage
This is where the committee report back to the House on any amendments passed, the amendments are debated and voted upon, and further amendments may be added after the debate and vote.
What is the fifth stage?
The Third Reading
The Third Reading
This the final vote of the Bill, and usually is a formality.
In the Third Reading, when can there be a further debate?
If at least 6 MPs requested one
After the Five Stages, what happens?
The Bill is passed to the other House (HoL) and it will go through the same 5 stages, if the House (HoL) suggests any amendments it will go back to the other House (HoC). —> Ping Pong
How long does this ‘ping pong’ last?
It lasts until the Bill is agreed by both Houses.
Who can reject the Bill?
The House of Lords
What Acts limited the House of Lords power to reject a Bill?
The Parliament Act 1911 and 1949
The Parliament Act 1911 and 1949- what doe sit allow?
They allow a Bill to become a law up to a year after the House of Lords reject it, as the Lords can be by-passed by the Commons.
How many times has the power to reject a Bill been used? GIve example.
4 times–> The War Crimes ACt 1991 (which enabled people to be prosecuted for war crimes in Nazi Germany who are now British Citizens), Hunting Act 2004 (banned fox hunting).
What is the final stage of the Legaslative Process?
Royal Assent
Royal Assent
This is where the monarch formally gives approval to the Bill and it becomes an Act of Parliament, this is a formality–> The Monarch does not actually sign it.
What was the last time a Bill has been rejected?
Gueen Anne rejected the Scottish Militia Bill in 1707
