Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
What is meant by supremacy?
Having the most amount of power. In theory, Parliament are the only ones who should be able to make laws.
What does Parliament have the right to do?
Make, change or abolish any law they want.
Overrule any other law.
Can’t be bound by themselves (they can change their own laws whenever they want).
Why should Parliament be supreme?
There are 650 MPs who are voted for democratically by the public so in theory the laws they make represent what society wants.
What are the different names of laws made by Parliament?
Acts, Legislation, Statutes.
What is the difference between Parliament and government?
Parliament is made up of 3 parts (House of Commons, House of Lords and the monarch). They are responsible for legislature (they create laws).
Government is made up of the party with the majority of MPs in Parliament and they have executive function (present new ideas for laws and enforce laws through police).
How do political influences influence Parliament?
Political parties publish a manifesto setting out political ideas/aims. If these people are voted into government, they can put these plans into action and make them laws.
How does public opinion/media influence Parliament?
Public opinion, often expressed in media can influence Parliament to make certain laws e.g. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 after public outcry when several children were killed or injured.
How do pressure groups influence Parliament and what are the 2 types of pressure groups?
Bring specific matters to people’s attention which can influence Parliament to make laws.
Sectional pressure groups represent a section of society and their interests like the Law Society for lawyers’ interests.
Cause pressure groups focus on specific causes like the League of Cruel Sports that was against fox hunting. This led to the Hunting Act 2004.
How do lobbyists influence Parliament?
Try to get individual MPs to support a cause, often by persuading them to ask a question in the House of Commons to give publicity to an issue. Some pressure groups try to lobby MPs.
How does the Law Commission influence Parliament?
They are an independent group of legal experts who find problems within the law, conduct research and propose reforms to Parliament e.g. Consumer Rights Act 2015.
What are the advantages of political influences?
Manifestos make it easy to see what each party will do if elected.
Government majority makes it easy to pass Bills.
What are the disadvantages of political influences?
New Government may undo the work of old Governments.
Small majorities/ coalitions won’t be able to pass laws too freely e.g. Conservative and Lib Dem coalition 2010-2015.
What are the advantages of public opinion/media?
Make it easy to know which issues are actually important to society e.g. MP expenses scandal.
What are the disadvantages of public opinion/media?
Parliament may respond to quickly and make rushed/bad laws to avoid public outcry like Dangerous Dogs Act.
Media may manipulate the news and public opinion.
What are the advantages of pressure groups?
Can be very large and raise awareness for lots of important causes.