Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
What are laws made by Parliament known as?
Acts of Parliament or Statutes.
What does Parliament consist of?
House of Commons, House of Lords and The Crown.
What is the House of Commons?
Elected in general elections. Every constituency is represented by an MP.
What is the role of the House of Commons?
Most bills start here and will debate and vote on it. If HoC rejects bill, then it’s the end of bill. Government have the majority so most likely bill will become law.
What is the House of Lords?
Non-elected body. Made up of mainly life peers. Also, hereditary peers and senior Bishops of the Church of England.
What is the role of House of Lords?
HoL is less powerful than the HoC - because it’s unelected. HoL main goal is to check of HoC. HoL can vote against the bill, which alerts HoC that there is a problem and it can be amended or dropped. Power of Lords is limited by Parliament Acts 1911/49.
What is The Crown?
The Monarch - currently King Charles.
Royal assent, largely a formality
What are the different types of bills?
Proposed law that is drafted and published - known as a Bill.
Public laws - introduced by government, use public policy
Private Members Bills - Introduced by individual MPs.
What did Dicey say about Parliamentary Supremacy?
1) Parliament can legislate on any subject matter with no limits.
2) No Parliament can be bound by any previous one.
3) No other body has the right to override or set aside an Act of Parliament.
What are the Limitations of Parliament Supremacy?
1) Human Rights Act 1998 - Acts of parliament must be compatible with HRA. Article 4 - courts can decide if act is incompatible.
2) Devolution - Scotland and Wales have devolved powers.
What is Green/White paper?
Green paper - Idea for new law.
White paper - Firm proposal of new law.
What are the stages a bill must go through?
1) First Reading - Gives information of bill and name and aims. No discussion but vote by shouting of who is in favour or not.
2) Second Reading - Main debate on Main principles. Majority must be in favour for next stage.
3) Committee stage - Detailed examination of bill of a committee of 16-50 MPS. Done by a standing committee- drawn from main political parties. Bill rigorously examined and amendments can be made.
4) Report stage - amendments scrutinised. If there’s no amendments, no report stage.
5) Third Reading - Final vote of Bill. Imagine of formality as unlikely to fail. Bill now passes to HoL.
Process repeated and if okay.
Goes to The Crown and Bill will become an act at midnight or commencement date.
What are some influences on Parliament?
1) Political - political parties have policies etc.
+ - Proposal is ready
- - Small majority - may be difficult for laws to be passed.
2) Media/ public - strong public opinion can change law.
+ - Brings attention to faults
- - Bill poorly drafted due to quick changes.
3) Pressure Groups - To promote a cause (Greenpeace)
+ - Raise important issues e.g environmental
- - groups try and impose ideas when majority don’t agree.
4) Lobbying - People try and persuade member of Parliament to suppose their cause.
+ - Raise awareness of a particular cause.
- - Lobbyists can use abuse
