Legislation and Reform Flashcards
Name the Pre-parliamentary stages
- Idea stage
- Consultation stage
- Drafting stage
Name the parliamentary stages
- First reading
- Second reading
- Committee stage
- Report stage
- Third reading
- House change
- Royal assent
What happens in the idea stage?
MP’s use manifestos, law commission to create an idea for a new law
What happens in the consultation stage?
Idea is put into green paper, which sets out the idea, but may include several alternatives
Then the finalised version is put into white paper
What happens in the Drafting stage?
The idea finally becomes a bill, and sent into parliament
What happens in the first reading?
Title of the bill is read out
Date for second reading is set
What happens in the second reading?
The bill is debated
If there is a division, there will be a vote
Speaker announces if the “ayes have it”
Political parties use the whip system to ensure party support
What happens in the second reading?
The bill is debated
If there is a division, there will be a vote
Speaker announces if the “ayes have it”
Political parties use the whip system to ensure party support
What happens in the committee stage?
The bill is scrutinised clause by clause by public bill committee
They suggest amendments, additions and deletions
What happens in the report stage?
Report stage can be skipped if there are no changes needed
Public bill committee report back to house for proposal of any changes
What happens in the house change?
Bill swaps Houses and repeats the process
House of Lords is made up of unelected life peers and selected bishops
House of Lords can delay a bill up to one year
House of commons can use the parliament act 1911 and 1949 to avoid the delay
What happens in the Royal assent stage?
Bill is given the Royal assent and the bill will commence at midnight on the day of Royal assent
Name the two types of public bills
Government bill
Private member’s bill
Who does the public bill affect?
Whole country
