Legislative Process Flashcards
First Reading
announcement that a particular bill has started the legislative process
the bill becomes available to be viewed and scrutinised by everyone
Second Reading
Debate in the chamber over the bill and members of the HoL or HoC decide if it should be accepted
The case will be outlined by a government minister and then a member of the opposition will resopnd alongside backbenchers, and there will be a debate
Following the debate, a vote will take place and if successful then the bill will move forward. If the chamber votes against it, bill is defeated
Committee stage
Committe considers and examines the bill in detail
Will decide whether to make changes, or remove, any clause within the bill and consider amendments to the bill by the government or members of the HoL and Commons
The name of the standing commitee which reviews bills is called a Public Bill Committee
Report Stage
The discussion of amendments that have been made in the comittee stage, and takes place in both chambers with all members
The Charmber will agree or reject the proposed amendments to the bill by voting and more amendments may be added
Third Reading
Involves a discussion of the bill and what it is in it, amendments are no longer made in the HoC
In the HoL amendments can be made but only if they have not been previously considered in the early stages
After the discussion, the members of the chamber will vote on whether they approve the bill
Amendments considered
After Third Reading, the bill will return to the chamber where it began for the consideration of amendments. The HoL and HoC will consider the amendments proposed by the other chamber which they will accept or disagree with
A bill will go between both chambers until an agreement is reached
If an agreement can not be reached, then the bill will fail to become law
Royal Assent
A bill must be approved by the monarch for the bill to become a law, termed on Act of Parliament
The agreement of the monarch gives royal assent to a bill, and is a formality (an action taken just to comply with convention)
Exchange of Amendments
Both houses exchange admendments and is a key form of interaction, called ‘ping-pong’
The exchange takes place after the third reading stage and requires both chambers to agee on amendments before it can be law
The Salisbury Convention
Convention states that the HoL should not oppose the passing of legislation which was in the governments elected manifesto
The HoL should not vote against the bill at the second reading stage and not introduce amendments which changes the meaning of the bill fro the manifesto
The Salisbury Convention is an example of how the HoC has primacy over the HoL in law making
Financial Legislation
HoC has greater power, The Parliaent Act 1911 does not allow the Lords to amend money bills relating to government spending and taxes
- The Finance Act 2018 was financial legislation which Parliament passed in March 2018 without the HoL making amendments
Reasonable Time
Convention that the HoL will review laws relating to policy within a reasonable period of time
- HoL took a long time to start the comittee stage of the 2002 Animal Health Bill which led to a 4 month delay for it to become law
Secondary Legislation
HoL has power to reject secondary legislation (laws created by ministers that details to existing Acts)
However there is a convention that the HoL should not reject secondary legislation (as it amends existing laws to ensure they can operate practically and better in society)
Lords rarely stopped seocndary legislation but did when voting against tax credits as part of the Tax Credits Regulations 2015
The Strathclyde Review
2015 reviewed relationship between the houses. The review recommended that the HoL should not be able to stop secondary legislation, but ask HoC to rethink its proposal
The Strathclyde review asked whether secondary legislation could ony be passed through the House of Commons law making process
