Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
Who are the House of Commons?
650 MP’s who are elected representatives, the government holding the majority of seats which is currently the Conservative party
Who are the House of Lords?
Over 700 Life Peers, 92 Hereditary Peers and 26 Senior Bishops who are unelected and commonly known to be wealthy, white, old and male
What is the role of the monarchy?
King Charles is the current monarch and gives royal assent to successful bills making them an act of parliament
What is a bill?
A draft piece of legislation
What is a government Bill?
A bill introduced by a government minister that is comprehensive and concise, only becoming a legislation once receiving royal assent
What is a Private Members’ Bill?
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
What is the ballot method of introducing a PMB?
20 MP’s present a bill on a Friday, where the first 6/7 bills have the best chance due to timing
What is the ten minute rule method of introducing a PMB?
An MP will have 10 minutes to express support of a bill which is successful unless opposed
What is the ten minute rule method of introducing a PMB?
An MP will have 10 minutes to express support of a bill which is successful unless opposed
What is a public Bill?
Public policy is affected and most public bills are government bills
What is a private bill?
A small percentage of bill that only represent small areas/communities, an example is the 2016 Faversham Oyster Fisheries Bill
What is a hybrid bill?
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
What is the first stage of the Formal Legislative Process?
The bill is drafted on green paper, a consultation document, and issued or white paper, an informative document
What happens after green and white paper?
The first reading where the title of the bill is read
What happens after the first reading?
The second reading where the bill is discussed and debated
What happens after the second reading?
A select committee of 16-50 MP’s is formed, who are experts in the subject area, that compile a report and make amendments
What happens after the committee stage?
The amendments are agreed upon after further debate and the third reading takes place where there is more formality and a vote takes place
What happens after the third reading?
The bill is sent to the opposite house and the process restarts. This is known as the ‘ping-pong procedure’
What is ‘leap-frogging’?
The House of Commons can bypass the House of Lords, presumably due to them being elected representatives
What is the final stage of the Formal Legislative Process?
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
What are the advantages of parliamentary law making?
- Elected Representatives
- Consultation before proposals
- Legislation reforms whole areas of law
What are the disadvantages of parliamentary law making?
- 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
