Legislative Process

Question 1

What are the 3 separation of powers?

Answer 1

1. The executive government (power to put law into action)
2. Parliament (power to make and change the laws)
3. Judiciary (power to make judgements on the law)

Question 2

What is Parliamentary Sovereignty?

Answer 2

• Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK
• Parliament can create or change or end any law

Question 3

What is the house of commons?

Answer 3

• Representatives are elected

Question 4

What is the house of lords?

Answer 4

• Not elected by the public
• Members are selected based off expertise or serving in certain roles
• A majority is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister

Question 5

What is a Bill?

Answer 5

• A proposal to change an existing law

Question 6

What are the different types of bill?

Answer 6

• Public bills
• Private members bills
• Private bills
• Hybrid bills

Question 7

Who can introduce a bill?

Answer 7

• Government
• Individual MPs or Lords
• Private individuals or organizations

Question 8

What is the Ballot rule?

Answer 8

• Every year, a lottery (or ballot) is held, and a few MPs are randomly chosen to present their bill

Question 9

What is the ten minute rule?

Answer 9

• an MP is given 10 minutes to explain why they think their idea for a law is a good one if someone opposes they also get 10 minute

Question 10

What does presentation mean in regards to Private members bill?

Answer 10

• A process where they get a chance to bring up their idea for a new law without giving a big speech about it

Question 11

What is the King’s speech?

Answer 11

• sets out government policy and legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session.
• Took place on July 17 2024

Question 12

What are the two types of command papers?

Answer 12

1. Green
2. White

Question 13

What are green command papers?

Answer 13

• Early stage docs
• Outline ideas or options for new laws or policies.
• The government is asking for feedback from the public
• Consultation documents produced by the government

For ex. “Heres what we’re thinking, what do you think?”

Question 14

What are white command papers?

Answer 14

• More advanced
• After considering feedback, the government puts together a White Paper, which is a more detailed plan for the new law or policy.
• It’s almost ready to be turned into a law
• Policy documents produced by the government that set out their proposals for future legislation

For ex. “This is what we plan to do.”

Question 15

What does ‘Ping-Pong” mean?

Answer 15

• Refers to the back and forth of amendments to Bills between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Question 16

What are the parliament acts?

Answer 16

• The Parliament Acts have provided the House of Commons with an advantage.
• The elected House can overrule or bypass the House of Lords via the Parliament Act procedure.

Question 17

What are the 2 Parliament Acts?

Answer 17

1. Parliament Act 1911
2. Parliament Act 1949 (amending the Parliament Act 1911)

Question 18

What are the 7 bills that have become acts under the parliament act procedure?

Answer 18

1. Government of Ireland Act 1914
2. Welsh Church Act 1914
3. Parliament Act 1949
4. War Crimes ACr 1991
5. European Parliament Elections Act 1999
6. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
7. Hunting Act 2004

Question 19

What is Primary legislation?

Answer 19

• Main type of law created by parliament
• Acts of parliament

Question 19

What is Secondary Legislation?

Answer 19

• aka delegated or subordinate legislation/ statutory instruments/ regulations
• Government uses secondary legislation to make small changes or fill in the details of a law without having to pass a whole new law through parliament
• A faster way to adjust laws when needed
• Usually have ‘rule, regulation, or order’ in their title