Parliamentary Law Making

Question 1

What are green and white papers?

Answer 1

Draft documents

Question 2

What is a green paper?

Answer 2

A consultative document issued by the government putting forward proposals for reform of law and often inviting suggestions

Question 3

What is a white paper?

Answer 3

A document issued by the government stating its decisions as to how it is going to reform the law

Question 4

What is a bill?

Answer 4

A new law making its way through the formal stages of becoming an act of parliament

Question 5

What are the types of bills?

Answer 5

1. Public
2. Private members
3. Private
4. Hybrid

Question 6

What is a public bill?

Answer 6

Matters of public policy affecting the whole country or a large section of it
E.g. Legal aid, sentencing and punishment of offenders act 2012

Question 7

What is a private members bill?

Answer 7

Individual MPs introduce a bill

Question 8

What are the two ways a private MP can introduce a bill?

Answer 8

Ballot
‘Ten-minute’ rule

Question 9

What are private bills?

Answer 9

Designed to create a law which will effect only individual people or corporations

Question 10

What is a hybrid bill?

Answer 10

Across between a public and private
Introduced by government but if they become law affect a particular person, organisation or place

Question 11

What is the process of the passing of an act?

Answer 11

Bill - first reading at House of Commons - second reading at House of Commons - committee stage - report stage - third reading in House of Commons - same procedures in House of Lords - royal assent

Question 12

How does politics influence parliament?

Answer 12

When there’s a general election political parties publish a manifesto which amounts to a promise of what new laws they will introduce
E.g. The hunting act 2004 followed labours promise to outlaw fox hunting

Question 13

Advantages of political influence?

Answer 13

1. Each political party has proposals ready
2. Government majority means most bills if introduced will pass

Question 14

Disadvantages of political influence

Answer 14

Easy to make a promise but harder to fulfil the promise particularly without a majority

Question 15

How does media influence parliament?

Answer 15

When there is strong public opinion the government may bow.
When an issue is given high profile in the media it may add to the weight of public opinion.
E.g. following dublane massacre 1996 private ownership of handguns was banned

Question 16

What are the advantages of media influences on parliament?

Answer 16

UK’s free press can criticise government policy or bring any other issue to the attention of the government

Question 17

Disadvantages of media influencing parliament

Answer 17

1. Responding too quickly can lead to badly drafted law e.g. dangerous dogs act 1991
2. Media companies can manipulate the news to create public opinion

Question 18

How do pressure groups influence parliament?

Answer 18

Sectional: represent opinions of a particular group
Cause: promote a particular cause
E.g. 2007 laws against smoking in public areas and cancer research

Question 19

Advantages of pressure groups

Answer 19

Bring important scientific discoveries to the governments attention
E.g. damage done by greenhouse gases and other pollutants

Question 20

Disadvantages of pressure groups

Answer 20

Occasions when two pressure groups have conflicting interests
E.g. league against cruel sports wanted to ban fox hunting but countryside alliance wanted it to continue

Question 21

How does public opinion influence parliament?

Answer 21

Views of members of the general public
E.g. public opinion was mixed wether to leave the EU

Question 22

Advantages on public opinion influence of parliament

Answer 22

Where the majority of the public has certain beliefs or demands parliament can safely pass legislation on that issue

Question 23

Disadvantages on public opinion

Answer 23

Gauging public opinion can be difficult

Question 24

How do lobbyists influence parliament?

Answer 24

Professionals or organisations who try to persuade or influence government to enact, amend or repeal legislation that affects their own interests
E.g. most multinational companies have or use lobbyists

Question 25

Advantages of lobbyists

Answer 25

Citizens and organisations can approach a lobbyist to represent or present their interests directly to government ministers

Question 26

Disadvantages of lobbyists

Answer 26

1. Expensive and may only represent those who can afford their service
2. Accusations of dubious and corrupt methods have been made against lobysist