Parliamentary Law Making

Question 1

What are and how many different members of parliament

Answer 1

92 Hereditary peers
700 Life peers
26 Most senior Bishops

Question 2

Green paper

Answer 2

A consultative document issued by the government putting forward proposals for reform in the law

Question 3

White paper

Answer 3

A document issued by the government stating their decisions as to how they are going to reform the law

Question 4

Passing an act of parliament

Answer 4

1) Bill is drafted
2) First reading
3) Second reading
4) committee state
5) Report stage
6) Third reading
7) same as 1-6 but repeated in the HOL
8) Royal ascent

Question 5

Advantages of law making in parliament

Answer 5

• Made by elected representatives
• Can reform large areas of the law
• Can give powers for delegated legislation
• long process allows for objections and issues to be ironed out

Question 6

Disadvantages of law making in parliament

Answer 6

• Lack of time means all reforms aren’t managed
• An example of a law still awaiting reform is the law on assaults and battery
• Takes a long long time
• Difficult to understand due to complex nature

Question 7

Groups influencing parliament

Answer 7

Political influence
Pressure Groups
The Media
Law Reform Bodies

Question 8

Case for parliamentary supremacy

Answer 8

British Railways Board v Pickin (1974)

A private act of parliament the British Railways Act (1968). Case concerned the issue that the BRB had concealed things leading to fraud passing the act, which deprived Pickin of his property rights, but case was denied as no court can go behind the back of parliament.

Question 9

Limitations of Parliament

Answer 9

Human Rights Act 1998

Devolution

European Union Membership