Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
What are the four main roles of Parliament?
- Scrutinize
- Legislation
- Debate
- Tax/Budget Control
Name all 4 forms of Bills:
- Government Bill
- Public Bill
- Private Bill
- Private Member Bill
What is a bill?
- A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to change an existing law.
What is a Gov Bill?
- A bill which is introduced by the Government and often include a matter over general Public Policy. Cabinet Ministers are responsible for different departments and they are likely to succeed in Parliament as Government business takes priority in Parliament.
Animal Welfare Bill 2021
- Government Bill
What is a Public Bill?
- The same as a Government bill, which effects the whole population
Name a type of Public Bill:
- The European Union Withdrawal Act 2018
What is a Private Bill?
- A bill which only affects certain individuals or organizations’, they are also put forward by the Government.
University of London Act 2018
Private Bill
Abortion Act 1967
Private Member Bill
What is a Private Member Bill?
- Introduced by an individual MP , there is a limited time frame for which they can propose their bills and this is usually done via ballot or the 10 minute rule.
How many MPs are in the House of Commons?
- 650, each elected to represent a constituency
What is the House of Lords?
- A non elected body of Life Peers, Hereditary Peers and Bishops ect
What makes up the Consultation Stage?
- Green Paper: A consultation paper which outlines the ideas of reform and invites the parties which may be affected.
-White Paper: Sets out the firm proposals for new law
-Draft Bill: Lays out the proposal in formal, legal language
First Stage:
- The First Reading: Formal Procedure which the name and main aims of the bill are read out, there is no discussion or vote.
What comes after the First Reading?
- Second Reading
What is the Second Reading?
- The main debate on the bill and an MP vote occurs verbally. It focuses on the main principles of the bill and you must not speak without being called upon by the speaker.
- A majority vote is needed for the bill to pass through
What is the Committee Stage?
- A standing committee (MPs who have been specifically chosen) of 16-50MPs conduct a detailed examination of the bill and scrutinise each clause.
-If the bill includes finance- the whole house must sit, otherwise MPs with subject interest in the bill are chosen.
- The committee reports back on any amendments, which are then debated on and can be accepted or rejected.
- Report Stage
What is the Third Reading?
- The final vote on the bill, there is only a further debate if at least 6MPS request it.
What is the Other House Stage?
- The same process is repeated in the House of Lords.
What is Ping Pongying?
- If the HOL make any amendments, they must approved by the HOC, if they do not approve, it returns to the HOL.
- If the houses cannot agree, the House of Commons can push the bill through via the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949
What is Royal Assent?
- The Monarch gives approval for the Bill to become an Act of Parliament, the last time a bill was rejected was in 1707 with the refusal of the Scottish Militia Bill.
What is Commencment?
- The bill comes into action at midnight on the day of the royal assent.
List the Advantages of Parliamentary Law Making:
- Made via elected representatives- Democratic
- Lengthy process within both houses, very thorough
- In emergencies, Laws can be passed quicker ( Coronavirus Act 2020 )
- MP introducing the bill has a full expertise
List the disadvantages of the System:
- HOL is an unelected body, argued to be undemocratic
- Long Process; The Consumer Rights Act 2005 took 14 years to implement ( CVA 2020 )
- Parliamentary Sovegnrity makes it difficult to amend laws- Dangerous Dog Act 1991
