Parliamentary Law Making

Question 1

What is the role of the House of Commons

Answer 1

Most bills start here and they will be debated and voted on, if the HOC votes against the bill it is ended

Question 2

What is the role of the House of Lords

Answer 2

Lords can vote against a bill, if voted against the bill will be sent back to the HOC to be amended or ended, power of the lords is limited by the Parliament acts 1911 and 1949. these acts allow Bills to become laws even if HOL rejects it

Question 3

What is the role of the crown

Answer 3

To give acts royal assent which is now largely a formality

Question 4

What is a public bill

Answer 4

Introduced by the government and involve matters of public policy

Question 5

What are private members bills

Answer 5

Introduced by individual MPs

Question 6

What was the effect of the Human Rights act 1998 on parl supremacy

Answer 6

Acts of parliament must be compatible with the HRA and courts can declare an act incompatible under article 4

Question 7

What was the effect of devolution on parl supremacy

Answer 7

Scotland and Wales have devolved powers so they have the authority to make some laws

Question 8

What was the effect of EU membership on parl supremacy

Answer 8

EU law takes priority over UK law

Question 9

What is the green paper

Answer 9

An idea for a new law- a consultation document

Question 10

What is the white paper

Answer 10

Firm proposal of new law

Question 11

What is the first legislative stage

Answer 11

First reading- gov minister gives information about the bill (name and main aims) no discussion takes place can be a vote where MPs shout in favour or against

Question 12

What is the second legislative stage

Answer 12

Second reading- main debate about main principles, another vote on proceeding to the next stage, must be a majority in favour for the bill to progress

Question 13

What is the third legislative stage

Answer 13

Committee stage- detailed examination of the bill by a committee of 16-50 MPs, done by a standing committee chosen specifically for the Bill, every line of the bill is examined, amendments can be made

Question 14

What is the fourth stage of the legislative process

Answer 14

Report stage- committee reports back any amendments to the house, MPs can approve or reject amendments, no amendments no report stage

Question 15

What is the fifth legislative stage

Answer 15

Third reading- final vote on bill, formality as unlikely to fail at this stage, MPs vote and bill is passed to lords

Question 16

What is the sixth legislative stage (after process is repeated in HOL)

Answer 16

Royal assent- monarch formally gives approval, formally becomes an act of parliament, becomes law at midnight on its commencement date