Parliamentary law making

Question 1

What is the house of commons?

Answer 1

• elected by electorate
• must be general election every 5 years
• the majority party in the house of commons forms the government

Question 2

What is the house of lords?

Answer 2

• non elected body
• 92 hereditary peers
• about 700 life peers
• 26 most senior bishops in the church of england

Question 3

What is a green paper?

Answer 3

A consultative document on a topic in which the governments view is put forward with proposals for law reform. Interested are invited to send comments and help to make necessary changes.

Question 4

What is a white paper?

Answer 4

A document issued by the government stating their decisions as how they are going to reform the law.

Question 5

What is a bill?

Answer 5

The name for a draft law going through parliament before it passes all the parliamentary stages to become an act of parliament.

Question 6

Explain private members bills.

Answer 6

• introduced by MPs who aren’t government ministers also known as backbenchers
• relatively few became law

Question 7

What are the two ways a private MP can introduce a bill?

Answer 7

• ballot, 20 private members are selected who can take their turn in presenting their bill to parliament
• ten minute rule, any MP can make a speech up to 10 mins supporting the introduction of of new legislation

Question 8

What is a public bill?

Answer 8

• involves matters of public policy and affects the general public
• legal aid, sentencing and punishment act 2012

Question 9

What is a private bill?

Answer 9

• Affects a particular organisation person or place

- faversham oyster fishery company bill 2016

Question 10

What is a hybrid bill?

Answer 10

• introduced by the government but affects an organisation person or place
• cross rail acts

Question 11

What stages does a bill have to go through to become an act of parliament?

Answer 11

Bill is drafted, first reading in HOC, second reading in HOC, committee stage, report stage, third reading in HOC, same 5 procedures in HOL, royal assent.

Question 12

Name advantages of law making in parliament

Answer 12

• made by elected representatives so democratic
• acts of parliament can reform whole areas of law in one act
• is certain as it can’t be challenged under the doctrine of parliamentary supremacy

Question 13

Disadvantages of law making in parliament

Answer 13

• lengthy long process
• very little time for private members bills
• parliament don’t have time to deal with all the reforms that are proposed

Question 14

What does political influence on parliament involve?

Answer 14

• the political party elected has up to 5 years to bring in the reforms they promised in their manifesto
• the government has the major say on what new laws will be out before both houses

Question 15

Name an advantage of political influence on parliament

Answer 15

The fact that the government have majority in the house of commons means that virtually every law it proposes will be passed. Makes the law making process efficient.

Question 16

Name a disadvantage of the political influence on parliament.

Answer 16

If a different party is elected at the next general election, they made decide to repeal or alter some of the laws the previous the government passed.

Question 17

what is the influence of public opinion/media on parliament?

Answer 17

• when there is strong public opinion about a change to the law the government may bow to such an opinion
• high profile in media brings attention to the public and may add to the weight of public opinion

Question 18

What is an advantage of public opinion/media on parliament?

Answer 18

Sometimes public opinion will be affected by specific events and these may also play a role in formulating the law.

Question 19

Name a disadvantage of media/public opinion influencing parliament?

Answer 19

The government may respond too quickly to high profile incidents. This can lead to law made too quickly and not thought through so law is poorest drafted.

Question 19

Name a disadvantage of media/public opinion influencing parliament?

Answer 19

The government may respond too quickly to high profile incidents. This can lead to law made too quickly and not thought through so law is poorest drafted.

Question 20

What is a sectional pressure group?

Answer 20

They exist to represent the interests of a particular group of people. Often represent work groups or professions.

Question 21

What is a cause pressure group?

Answer 21

They exist to promote a particular cause. Eg green peace and animal welfare groups.

Question 22

What is lobbying?

Answer 22

Some pressure groups try to persuade individual members of parliament to support their cause, this is often in the lobbies.

Question 23

What is lobbying?

Answer 23

Some pressure groups try to persuade individual members of parliament to support their cause, this is often in the lobbies.

Question 24

An advantage of pressure groups

Answer 24

Often raise important issues and a wide range of issues is drawn to the attention of the government.

Question 25

Name a disadvantage of pressure groups

Answer 25

Pressure groups are seeking to impose their ideas even when the majority of the public do not support their views.

Question 26

How does law commission influence parliamentary law making?

Answer 26

An independent body to review the law and propose reform.

Question 27

An advantage of law commission influencing parliamentary law making

Answer 27

Law is researched by legal experts, consults before finalising proposals, whole areas of law are considered.

Question 28

Disadvantage of law commission influencing parliamentary law making

Answer 28

Parliament does not implement all proposals.

Question 29

Dicey’s 3 points on the definition of parliamentary supremacy

Answer 29

1) parliament can legislate on any matter
2) no parliament can be bound by previous parliament nor can pass any act that will bind a later parliament
3) no other body has the right to override or set aside an act of parliament