Parliamentary law making

Question 1

What are the laws made by parliament called?

Answer 1

Acts of parliament
(statutes and legislations)

Question 2

What must be introduced and who must introduce it for an Act to be made?

Answer 2

A bill must be introduced by parliament

Question 3

Who must debate and approve of a bill for it to become an Act?

Answer 3

By both the Houses of Parliament - House of Lord and the House of Commons

Question 4

What is the last approval of a bill before it becomes an Act and who gives this approval?

Answer 4

Royal Assent from the Monarch (King or Queen)

Question 5

What are the four types of bills?

Answer 5

Public bills
Private bills
Private members bills
Hybrid bills

Question 6

What is a public bill and give an example of one:

Answer 6

A bill that applies to the general population and are the most common type of bill introduced
-Equality Act 2010
-Safety of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) Bill

Question 7

What is a private bill and give an example of one:

Answer 7

Designed to pass a law that will affect only individual people or corporations
-British Railways Act 1969
-University College London Act 1996

Question 8

What is a Private Members Bill and give an example:

Answer 8

They’re sponsored by individual MPs and there will be a ballot to select who presents their Bill in parliament
-Joan Ruddock
-MP for Lewisham and Deptford
-Household Waste Recycling Act 2003

Question 9

What is a Hybrid Bill and give an example:

Answer 9

Mix the characteristics of public and private bills. Will affect the general public but also have a more significant impact on specific individuals or groups
-High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill 2017-2019

Question 10

What are the three institutions within the legislative process?

Answer 10

-House of Commons
-House of Lords
-Monarch

Question 11

What are the two pre-legislative processes and what are they?

Answer 11

-Green paper - consultation document
-White paper - firm proposal of the law

Question 12

What are the 7 legislative processes?

Answer 12

-First reading
-Second reading
-Committee stage
-Report stage
-Third reading
-House of Lords
-Royal Assent

Question 13

What happens in the first reading?

Answer 13

The formal procedure where the name and main aims of the bill are read out with no discussion and no vote

Question 14

What happens in the second reading?

Answer 14

The main debate on the whole Bill, MPs debate the principles behind the bill which is focused on the main principles. At the end of the debate there is a vote and there must be a majority in favour of the Bill for it to progress

Question 15

What happens in the committee stage?

Answer 15

Thoroughly examining every clause of the Bill. A committee of 16-50 MPs form a standing committee, chosen specifically for that bill

Question 16

What happens in the report stage?

Answer 16

Committee reports back to the House on amendments or additions accepted by them. If there are no amendments then there is no report stage

Question 17

What happens in the third reading?

Answer 17

The final vote on the Bill. Almost a formality. Bill will be passed to the House of Lords for further debate and consideration

Question 18

What happens in the House of Lords legislative process?

Answer 18

If a Bill is introduced it will follow the following process:
-First reading
-Second reading
-Committee stage
-Third reading
Then to the House of Commons for their consideration

Question 19

What happens in Royal Assent?

Answer 19

The monarch will not even have the text of the Bills which they are assenting: they will only have the short title