Legislation

Question 1

What are public bills?

Answer 1

Public bills are bills put forward by executive and concearn the whole country.

Question 2

Give an example of a public bill.

Answer 2

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 which regulates and determines the powers of the police (e.g stop and search).

Question 3

What is a private member’s bill?

Answer 3

A bill that is put forward by backbench MPs of any party.

Question 4

Give an example of a private members bill.

Answer 4

Abortion Act 1967 - Put forward by David Steele MP.

Murder Act 1965 - Put foward by Sydney Silverman MP to abolish the death penalty in UK.

Question 5

Describe the process by which private member’s bills come about.

Answer 5

• At the beginning of the year 20 names are drawn out.

- Each chosen MP will be given 10 minutes to outline their bill.

Question 6

Define ‘filibustering’.

Answer 6

Filibustering is the process by which MPs waste time during their 10 minutes.

Question 7

What is a Private Bill?

Answer 7

A bill that will only affect a certain region. Sometimes proposed by a large company.

Question 8

Give an example of a private bill.

Answer 8

Whitehaven Harbour Act 2007

Question 9

List the Pre-Parliamentary stages in chronological order and give a brief description of each.

Answer 9

IDEA STAGE:
- Different Sources provide inspiration for a new law (e.g Law Commission, Royal Commission Reports).
CONSULTATION STAGE:
- Green paper produced - sets out the proposals for the bill and any alternatives
- White paper - finalised version including the government’s ‘Statement of Intent’.
DRAFTING STAGE:
- Parliamentary Councel will convert the bill into legal terminology
- It will now be debated by the House.

Question 10

List the Parliamentary Stages in order, giving a brief description of each.

Answer 10

FIRST READING:
- Title of bill and date of second reading will be read out.
SECOND READING:
- The whole house will debate the bill
- Whip system will ensure party loyalty for an important bill.
COMMITTEE STAGE:
- The Public Bill Committee will scruitinise the bill.
- PBC will present any amendments to the house
THIRD READING:
- Final readthrough of the bill in the House.
OTHER HOUSE:
- The previous processes will now commence in the House of Lords.
- House of Lords can delay a money bill for up to one year (Parliament Act 1949).
- The House of Commons can invoke the Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949 in order to get a bill to pass (e.g Hunting Act 2004).
ROYAL ASSENT:
- The bill will now be given to the monarch to sign and give their royal seal of approval.

Question 11

Give 3 advantages of the legislative process.

Answer 11

Permissible answers:

• Democratic
• Lengthy process means more effective scrutiny.
• PBC effectively scrutinise
• Life peers are experts in their topic and therefore they are best suited to vote on bills.

Question 12

Give 3 disadvantages of the legislative process.

Answer 12

Permissible answers:
- Lengthy process - 700+ hours debating fox hunting.

• The public bills committee favours the leading party - though they are proportionally representative.
• Some good ideas may slip through the net due to
  lack of parliamentary time.
• Whip system is practically bullying - undemocratic
• House of Lords is undemocratic
• First stage is a waste of time.
• Royal assent is more of a tradition and futile.