Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
Name the stages of the legislative process
Pre-legislative process, green
and white papers
Bill is drafted
First reading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report stage
Third reading
Same procedures in the other house
Royal asset
What are the documents called where if the change in the law is being considered, it will draft ideas, and what do they do ?
Green paper
An initial consultation document to gain views about proposed new law and inviting suggestions from a variety of different parties. Ammendments may be made in light of feedback
White paper
A document that sets out the government’s preferred approach to a future piece of legislation
What is a Bill ?
And name the three types
1) PUBLIC BILLS - These involve matters of the public policy affecting the whole country or a large section of it. E.g, Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
2) PRIVATE MEMBER BILLS - These give an opportunity to the MPs who are not part of government (“backbenchers”) to introduce a Bill. E.g, The Abortion Act 1967
3) PRIVATE BILLS
These as designed to create a law which will affect only individual people or corporations. They do not affect the whole community. E.g The University Collage London Act 1996 was passed in order to combine a number of medical schools with University collage.
What is the First reading?
Short title and main aims of the Bill are announced, and an order for the Bill to be printed ( no debate yet )
What is the Second reading?
◇ Main debate on whole Bill takes place
◇ Conducted by Minister, MP or Lord describes the aim behind the Bill
◇ Usually focus on main principles ( not specific )
◇ Then vote ( majority has to be in favour in order the the Bill to progress further )
What is the Committee stage?
◇ detailed examination between 15-16 Mps
◇ usually done by standing Committee
◇Committee is entitled to make any recommendations for any ammendments necessary
What is the Report stage?
◇ They will report back any ammendments to the house for debate
◇Then vote to accept ammendments
◇ If no ammendments at Committee stage the Bill will go straight to the next stage
What is the Third reading?
◇ Gives house final chance to look at the Bill to decide whether they want it to go further
◇ ( Bill is unlikely to fail at this stage )
What is the Repeat process in the other house ?
◇ Bill goes to the other house to repeat the exact same legislative stages
◇ If eather house makes ammendments Bill could go back and forth
◇ This will continue until all proposed changes have been agreed on by both houses
(From flc9) what happens if the Two houses cannot agree?
Under the Parliaments Act in 1911 and 1949 the house of Lords can only delay the passage for up to one year and not prevent it. This power has only ever been used in the Hunting Dog Act of 2004
What is the Royal Assent ?
◇ Monarchy has to approve of the Bill
◇ Then becomes Act of Parliament and part of Law land
