Parliamentary law making Flashcards
what is the house of commons?
they are directly elected, make policies and decide how to run the country. they debate scrutinize and vote in whether to approve laws, they represent the views of the electorate
what is the house of lords?
700 members
unelected and unpaid, attendance voluntary
hereditary life peers
their role is to compliment the HofC, they question govt. scrutinize and amend proposed legislation
debate policy issues and matters of general concern, introduce bills and delay legislation to allow further time
what is the role of the crown?
open each session, give royal assent, appoint and dismiss prime minister
what is a party manifesto?
a publication issued by a party before a general election, contains their set of policies that the party stands for and would implement if elected to govern. Party should be able to win votes when they put through pledges in their manifesto
what are green papers?
Green Papers are consultation documents produced by the Government. The aim of this document is to allow people both inside and outside Parliament to give the department feedback on its policy or legislative proposals.
come before white papers
what are white papers?
a firm proposal of new laws, it states how the law is going to be reformed and why i.e. supreme court decided that the govt must consult parliament before leaving the EU
may include a draft version of a Bill that is being planned. This provides a basis for further consultation and discussion with interested or affected groups and allows final changes to be made before a Bill is formally presented to Parliament.
what comes first, green papers or white papers?
green papers
what is formal legislation?
acts of parliament i.e. statutes, they are introduced by government departments which then becomes a draft bill
what is a government bill?
introduced by the govt. department responsible for that area, usually influences of the aims of the government
e.g. criminal justice and courts act
what are private members bill?
introduced by a private mp, can debate on a friday with a ten min slot to introduce new laws
household waste recycling act 2003
what is a public bill?
matters of public policy that affects the whole country or a large part of it e.g. legal aid, sentencing and punishment act 2012
what is a private bill?
matters that affect a small group or corporation
faversham oystery fishes company bill 2016
what is a hybrid bill?
introduced by govt but affect a group or organisation
e.g. crossrail acts
what is the parliamentary process:
first reading
second reading
committee stage
report stage
third reading
goes to house of lords - ping ponging
royal assent
what is the first reading?
The bill arrives in the Lords. This stage is a formality where the bill name is read in the chamber
what is the second reading?
The main debate on the purpose and key areas of the bill. At this stage members discuss any concerns or specific areas where they think changes may be needed. There are usually no votes (divisions) at this stage
what is the committee stage?
Detailed line-by-line scrutiny of the text with amendments (suggested changes). Members start at the front of the bill and work through to the end. Votes may take place to decide whether to make the changes. Any member may take part and there is no time limit
what is the report stage?
A further opportunity to examine the bill and make changes. More amendments are debated and further votes take place to decide whether to make the changes
what is the third reading?
A ‘tidying up’ stage, aiming to close any loopholes. A final chance for amendments and votes
what does royal assent mean?
When both Houses have agreed the text, the bill is approved by the monarch and becomes a law or ‘Act of Parliament’
what are the advantages of making law in parliament?
- democratically elected
- can vote out who you don’t like
- can reform whole areas of law i.e. fraud act 2006
- allows for consultation
- lengthy process allows for discussion and amendments
- cannot be challenged
what are the disadvantages of parliamentary law making?
time consuming
some reforms dont get done oap act 1861
local issues dont get considered
long and complex
may be poorly worded
what are the advantages and disadvantages of party manifestos
will have reforms ready for when they are elected
proposal likely to be approved
could repeal previous laws
changes can be costly and open to criticism
a small majority may rely on a coalition
how can the media influence law making?
strong public opinion can change the law, most likely towards end of term. high profile topics will gain govt. attention + public figures
