Parliament : The Legislative Process Flashcards
Key point in passing leg?
Approval in both chambers
What stops leg being passed in both chambers?
Invocation if 1949 parliament act which delays it for one year
Parliamentary ping pong
When leg goes back and forth a lot between the houses to find common ground
When are amendments considered for a leg bill?
When it has passed through the third reading both houses and is returned to the first house for amendments made by the second house to be considered
How are laws passed?
- Preparatory stage
- First reading
- Second reading
- Committee stage
- Report stage
- Third reading
- The ‘other’ stage
Preparatory stages
Before bills are passed their provisions may have been outlined in a White Paper or a Green Paper
First reading
The bill is introduced to parliament through the formal reading of the title and usually setting a date for a second reading - no debate or vote at this stage
Second reading
First substantive stage, involves a full debate that considers principles, not details, followed by a vote. First stage where a bill can be defeated.
Committee stage
When details of the bill are considered line by line. Carried out by a public bill committee, formerly known as a standing committee, consisting of 18 mps, may be considered by a committee of the whole house. Most amendments made at this stage
Report stage
When the committee reports back to the full commons on any chnages made durng committee stage. Commons may amend or reverse changes
Third reading
Replicates the second reading in that there is a debate of the full chamber, enabling the house to take an overview of the bill in its amended state, followed by a vote. No new amendments can be made, unusual for bills to be defeated here
The ‘other’ stage
Major bills are considered first by commons, but other bills may start in the lords. Once passed by one chamber the bill goes through the same process in the ‘other place’ before going to the monarch for royal assent
What happens after the wording of a bill has been agreed upon?
Goes to the monarch for royal assent
What happens after royal assent?
Bill is made an Act of Parliament and becomes law
What happens if the houses don’t agree?
The bill falls, but commons can use the parliament acts to pass the bill without onsent of the lords in the following session after a year’s delay
