Parliamentary law making

Question 1

What is the legislative process?

Answer 1

The process in which law is made and passed in parliament

Question 2

Explain the steps of the legislative process

Answer 2

Green paper: original bill proposition
White paper: bill put into formal paper
First reading: name of bill read in parliament
Second reading: main debate where mps debate the principle
Committee stage: bill reviewed by standing committee
Report stage: back to house if no amendment are needed
Third reading: final law read out after all amendments
Royal assent: law passed by monarchy

Question 3

What are the influences on parliament?

Answer 3

Media
Law commission
Pressure groups

Question 4

Give a case where media groups put pressure on parliament to change a piece of legislation?

Answer 4

Stephen Lawrence murder case

Couldn’t be tried twice for same case but campaign changed that

Question 5

What is double jeopardy?

Answer 5

Being tried for the same case twice which used to be illegal.

Question 6

What are pressure groups?

Answer 6

Groups of people who share similar ideas and campaign for changes in the law

Question 7

What is the media’s influence on law making?

Answer 7

The media can put pressure on MP’s to form campaigns against existing and proposed laws

Question 8

What is the law commissions influence on law making?

Answer 8

They aim to review the law and recommend to parliament what laws need to be updated or removed.

Question 9

What are some Advantages of pressure groups?

Answer 9

1) are able to create public awareness on matters affecting a cause.
2) can have huge membership which can be extremely influential
3) reminds parliament of the importance of some issues

Question 10

What are some disadvantages of pressure groups?

Answer 10

1) some members are so passionate they engage in criminal behaviour to promote their cause.
2) they are bias in favour of their cause and may not present fair arguments.
3) opinions may only be of a small minority

Question 11

How many members of the House of Commons?

Answer 11

650 members
One prime minister
22 in cabinet

Question 12

How many members of House of Lords are there?

Answer 12

Approx 1000

Question 13

What is the green paper in the legislative process?

Answer 13

Draft and original bill proposition

Question 14

What is the white paper in the legislative process?

Answer 14

Formal page which goes to the House of Commons

Question 15

What happens in the first reading In the legislative process?

Answer 15

First formal legislative process, the name of the bill is read in parliament

Question 16

What happens in the committee stage of the legislative process?

Answer 16

A detailed examination of each clause of the bill by the cabinet

Question 17

What happens in the second reading of the legislative process?

Answer 17

Main debate on the whole bill, MP’s who wish to speak must catch the speakers eye. A vote is taken to whether the bill should be passed

Question 18

What happens in the third reading in the legislative process?

Answer 18

Final vote on the bill after all the amendments have been made.

Question 19

What is the report stage in the legislative process?

Answer 19

Committee report back to the house on what amendments have to be made.

Question 20

What is royal assent?

Answer 20

Monarch must approve of the bill then it becomes an act of parliament

Question 21

What’s some advantages of parliamentary law making?

Answer 21

It is democratic
Delegates power
Very thorough process
Parliament are supreme

Question 22

What are some disadvantages of parliamentary law making?

Answer 22

Time consuming
Back benchers are ignored
Complexity

Question 23

What is a back bencher?

Answer 23

(in the UK) a Member of Parliament who does not hold office in the government or opposition and who sits behind the front benches in the House of Commons.

Question 24

What is the cabinet?

Answer 24

the committee of senior ministers responsible for controlling government policy.

Question 25

How many members of the cabinet are there?

Answer 25

The prime minister and 21 other cabinet ministers.

Question 26

What is a private bill?

Answer 26

a legislative bill affecting the interests only of a particular body or individual.

Question 27

What is a hybrid bill?

Answer 27

(in the UK) a legislative bill that combines the characteristics of a private and public bill.

Question 28

What is a public bill?

Answer 28

a proposed law that affects the public as a whole

Question 29

What is the doctrine of parliamentary supremacy?

Answer 29

Parliamentary sovereignty is a principle of the UK constitution. It makes Parliament the supreme legal authority in the UK, which can create or end any law. Generally, the courts cannot overrule its legislation and no Parliament can pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change.