Parliamentary Law Making 2A Flashcards
What is meant by ‘Parliamentary supremacy’?
Parliament is the most powerful law maker in the UK
They have the right to make, amend, and repeal any law and no previous or future government can override the decisions made.
What are the 3 parts of Parliament?
Monarch
Lords
Commons
What is Parliament’s law called?
Acts
Legislation
Statutes
Other than parliament who can make law?
Judges
Local council
Public bodies
What is the government?
A party who were elected to run the country - prime minister’s party
How many MPs are in the house of commons?
650
Who sits in the house of lords?
Life peers (people who have achieved a lot in their career or just life)
Bishops
Hereditary peers
Who used to sit in the house of lords but don’t anymore? And why?
Law lords
To ensure separation of powers
What are the 4 types of bill?
Private member’s bill
Public Bill
Private Bill
Government Bill
Explain what a Government Bill is.
A draft law introduced to Parliament by the government.
Explain what a Private Member’s Bill is.
A draft law introduced to Parliament by an MP not in government (back bencher).
Explain what a Public Bill is.
A draft law that affects the whole country.
Explain what a Private Bill is.
A draft law that only affects certain individuals or businesses.
Where does a Bill begin?
With the relevant government department.
What is the first stage for a Bill?
Green Paper
Government department publishes a green paper that sets out general aims. This invites responses from interested parties and changes are made accordingly.
What is the second stage of a Bill?
White Paper
Government department publishes a white paper that contains firm proposals for the new law. This then moves to the next stage.
What is the third stage of a Bill?
The House of commons
Within the third stage of a Bill what is the first reading?
The title and the aims are read out.
Within the third stage of a Bill what is the second reading?
Minister explains the purpose of the Bill and the MPs debate and vote. If the majority agrees, it goes ahead.
Within the third stage of a Bill what is the committee stage?
16-50 MPs scrutinise the Bill in detail, examine each clause and will consider any potential problems.
Within the third stage of a Bill what is the Report stage?
Committee reports back to the commons with suggested amendments. These will either be accepted or rejected.
Within the third stage of a Bill what is the third reading?
Another debate is held on the amended Bill then there is a final vote. If the majority agrees, it will move to the next stage.
What is the fourth stage of a Bill?
The house of lords
Same process as the commons takes place but the committee stage involves the whole house.
Then passed back to the commons and the ping pong stage begins. Goes back and forth until both are happy then it goes to the next stage.
What is the fifth stage of a Bill?
Bill goes to the monarch for a royal assent and the bill comes into force at midnight that night.
