Parliamentary Law Making

Question 1

Who are the House of Commons?

Answer 1

650 MP’s who are elected representatives, the government holding the majority of seats which is currently the Conservative party

Question 2

Who are the House of Lords?

Answer 2

Over 700 Life Peers, 92 Hereditary Peers and 26 Senior Bishops who are unelected and commonly known to be wealthy, white, old and male

Question 3

What is the role of the monarchy?

Answer 3

King Charles is the current monarch and gives royal assent to successful bills making them an act of parliament

Question 4

What is a bill?

Answer 4

A draft piece of legislation

Question 5

What is a government Bill?

Answer 5

A bill introduced by a government minister that is comprehensive and concise, only becoming a legislation once receiving royal assent

Question 6

What is a Private Members’ Bill?

Answer 6

A backbencher (MP) introduces a bill by a ballot or the ten minute rule, few PMB’s become law, and a House of Lords member can introduce a PMB

Question 7

What is the ballot method of introducing a PMB?

Answer 7

20 MP’s present a bill on a Friday, where the first 6/7 bills have the best chance due to timing

Question 8

What is the ten minute rule method of introducing a PMB?

Answer 8

An MP will have 10 minutes to express support of a bill which is successful unless opposed

Question 8

What is the ten minute rule method of introducing a PMB?

Answer 8

An MP will have 10 minutes to express support of a bill which is successful unless opposed

Question 9

What is a public Bill?

Answer 9

Public policy is affected and most public bills are government bills

Question 10

What is a private bill?

Answer 10

A small percentage of bill that only represent small areas/communities, an example is the 2016 Faversham Oyster Fisheries Bill

Question 11

What is a hybrid bill?

Answer 11

A cross between public and private bills, that are used to acquire land, grant planning permission or authorise work. These can be petitioned before they are passed

Question 12

What is the first stage of the Formal Legislative Process?

Answer 12

The bill is drafted on green paper, a consultation document, and issued or white paper, an informative document

Question 13

What happens after green and white paper?

Answer 13

The first reading where the title of the bill is read

Question 14

What happens after the first reading?

Answer 14

The second reading where the bill is discussed and debated

Question 15

What happens after the second reading?

Answer 15

A select committee of 16-50 MP’s is formed, who are experts in the subject area, that compile a report and make amendments

Question 16

What happens after the committee stage?

Answer 16

The amendments are agreed upon after further debate and the third reading takes place where there is more formality and a vote takes place

Question 17

What happens after the third reading?

Answer 17

The bill is sent to the opposite house and the process restarts. This is known as the ‘ping-pong procedure’

Question 18

What is ‘leap-frogging’?

Answer 18

The House of Commons can bypass the House of Lords, presumably due to them being elected representatives

Question 19

What is the final stage of the Formal Legislative Process?

Answer 19

The bill is sent for royal assent and becomes an act of parliament. The last time this was refused was the Scottish Militia Bill in 1707, refused by Queen Ann

Question 20

What are the advantages of parliamentary law making?

Answer 20

• Elected Representatives
• Consultation before proposals
• Legislation reforms whole areas of law

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of parliamentary law making?

Answer 21

• Law becomes more complex when one Act amends another
• There isn’t time to deal with all reforms proposed
• Theres little time for PMB’s due to government controlling the parliamentary timetable