Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
What is a green paper?
Consultative document that sets out ideas for legislation
What is a white paper?
Final/ firm proposals
Eg; court & legal services act 1989 preceded 3 green papers and 1 white paper
What is a public bill?
A bill that affects a large majority of the population
What is a government bill?
Bills that are introduced by government
Give an example of a government bill
Access to justice act 1999
Is a government bill public or private?
Public
What is a private members bill?
Bills introduced by backbench MP’s whose names have been selected by ballot.
Give an example of a private members bill
Abortion act 1967 by David Steele
Marriage act 1994
Murder act 1965 (death penalty removed)
Is a private members bill public or private?
Public
What is a private bill?
Only effect specific bodies of people
Which type of bill is the abortion act 1967?
Private members bill
Give an example of a private bill
Medway Council act 2004
What is a hybrid bill?
A cross between a public bill and a private bill, effect the legal rights of a small number of people
Give an example of a hybrid bill
The channel tunnel act 1987
Cross rail act 2008
Which type of bill is the channel tunnel act 1987?
Hybrid
Which type of bill is the cross rail act 2008?
Hybrid bill
What happens in the first reading of a bill?
Title of the bill is dead out to the house
Where do finance bills begin?
House of Commons
What happens in the second reading?
House holds a debate on the main principles of the bill, a vote is taken to see whether bill should procede further.
What happens in the committee stage?
Detailed examination of each clause, amendments posed.
What happens in the report stage?
Committee reports back to the house from any amendments that have been made, these are debated and voted on.
What happens in the third reading?
Bill presented to house and a final vote is taken?
What is ping pong?
Bill being passed to and from the House of Lords and the hour of commons after amendments have been made.
What is the order of the stages that take place when a bill first goes to either the House of Lords or the House of Commons?
First reading Second reading Committee stage Report stage Third reading
Once a bill has successfully been through the stages in both houses, what happens?
Royal assent
What is royal assent?
Formal consent of the monarch
When was the last time a monarch refused a bill?
Queen Anne 1707
Give an advantage of the parliamentary process
Democratic
Takes note of public opinion
Thorough and detailed
Give a disadvantage of the parliamentary process
Time consuming
Inadequate scrutiny
House of Lords (not elected) able to delay
Can take a long time
What is parliamentary supremacy?
The idea that parliament is the supreme law making body in the country
What is a limitation on parliamentary supremacy?
Must follow EU law
Must follow human rights act 1998
Give an example of a pressure group
Green peace
Etc
What is a sectional group?
Represent their own particular section of society
Give an example of a sectional group?
Trade unions
Professional associations
What is a causal group?
Promote an idea or belief
Give an example of a causal pressure group
Green peace
Amnesty international
Give an advantage of pressure groups
Give the public a voice
Help tell MP’s what people want
Raise public awareness
Can be consulted for expertise
Give a disadvantage of pressure groups
Smaller pressure groups often go unrecognised
Strikes and protests can cause problems
Sometimes only represent a minority view
Define pressure groups
Bodies of people with a shared interest which influence the government in making the law
Give an advantage of the media in law making?
Powerful in bringing issues to publics attention
Adds weight to a public opinion
Give a disadvantage of the media in law making?
Can represent the minority (newspaper companies)
Newspapers often adopt views which reflect those of their owners
Can be bias
Information is not always factual
