Parliamentary Law Making

Question 1

What is a green paper?

Answer 1

Consultative document on a topic in which the government view is put forward with proposals with law reform.

Question 2

What is a white paper?

Answer 2

A consultative document with more firm proposals for law reform.

Question 3

Where are most of the acts of parliament made from?

Answer 3

The government

Question 4

What is a bill?

Answer 4

When the proposed law has been drafted and is published.

Question 5

What are government bills?

Answer 5

Where a bill is put forward by the government.

Question 6

What are private members bills?

Answer 6

Individual (private) MPs or peers to introduce a bill. They are not government ministers and are known as backbenchers.

Question 7

What are the two ways a backbencher can introduce a bill?

Answer 7

1. There is a ballot each parliamentary session in which20 MPs are selected who can take turn in presenting the bill.
2. Under a ten minute speech made by any MP supporting the introduction of the bill.

Question 8

Give an example of a private members bill

Answer 8

WASTE RECYCLING ACT 2003

Question 9

What are public bills?

Answer 9

Most bills are introduced into parliament involve matters of public policy which will affect the general public.

Question 10

Give an example of a public bill

Answer 10

DIGITAL ECONOMY ACT 2017

Question 11

What is private bill?

Answer 11

A bill that will affect only a specific individual or organisation like local authorities or private companies.

Question 12

Give an example of a private bill?

Answer 12

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL ACT 2003

Question 13

What is a hybrid bill?

Answer 13

They mix the characteristics of public and private bill. They are very rare.

Question 14

How can a bill become a statute?

Answer 14

Pass through both houses common and lords

Question 15

What is the first reading?

Answer 15

Where the name and main aims are introduced. No vote

Question 16

What is the second reading?

Answer 16

The main debate on the principles of the bill followed by a vote.

Question 17

What is the committee stage?

Answer 17

Involves a committee of 16 and 50 MPs who examine the details of the bill clause by clause and suggest any amendments.

Question 18

What is the report stage?

Answer 18

Where the public bill committee report back any amendments. These will be debated which either accept or reject after a vote.

Question 19

What is the third reading?

Answer 19

The final debate on the bill and a final vote.

Question 20

What happens if the lords make amendments to the bill?

Answer 20

The commons will have to approve of it or they will be rejected.

Question 21

What is stated in PARLIAMENT ACT 1911 and 1949?

Answer 21

The lords can only delay a bill from becoming law. This is because the lords is not an elected body.

Question 22

What happens if the lords reject the bill?

Answer 22

Reintroduced into the House of Commons unaltered, the lords can bypass the bill onto royal assent.

Question 23

Give an example of the delaying power being used by the lords

Answer 23

HUNTING ACT 2004

Question 24

What is the final stage?

Answer 24

Royal assent

Question 25

What is royal assent?

Answer 25

Where the monarch gives approval to the bill and it becomes an act of parliament.

Question 26

What are the influences on parliamentary law making?

Answer 26

``` Political influences Strong public opinion Media Pressure groups Law commission ```

Question 27

What are the advantages of being influenced by the political parties?

Answer 27

Each party has its proposals for reform so when elected they can put in into force. Also the fact that it’s the majority so they’ll easily vote for the bill.

Question 28

Give an example of political influence

Answer 28

EUROPEAN REFERENDUM ACT 2015

Question 29

A disadvantage of political influence?

Answer 29

If a different party if elected they might want to change or amend the law. This is costly and open to criticism.

Question 30

An advantage of public opinion influence?

Answer 30

Sometimes public opinion will be affected by an event and these play a role in influencing parliament.

Question 31

Give an example of public opinion influence?

Answer 31

FIREARMS ACT 1997

Question 32

A disadvantage of being influenced by public opinion?

Answer 32

Parliament might respond too quickly and lead to poorly drafted law.

Question 33

An example of poorly drafted law made from public opinion?

Answer 33

DANGEROUS DOGS ACT 1991

Question 34

Advantage of influenced by the media?

Answer 34

We have a free press, so they are able to criticise government policy or bring any attention of the government.

Question 35

Disadvantage of being influenced by the media?

Answer 35

The media can manipulate the news and create public opinion.

Question 36

An advantage of being influenced by pressure groups?

Answer 36

A wide range of issues are drawn to the government.

Question 37

Disadvantage of pressure groups influence?

Answer 37

Argued that they are only imposing their ideas whilst the majority of the public may not support their views.

Question 38

Advantage of being influenced by the law commission?

Answer 38

- areas of law are researched by legal experts. - it consults before finalising a proposal - whole areas of law can be considered.

Question 39

Disadvantage of using the law commission.?

Answer 39

Does not always implement the reforms from law commission. Lack of parliamentary time.

Question 40

What is parliamentary supremacy?

Answer 40

No limits what parliament can make laws about. Also changes its own powers. Did this by the placing limits on the house of lord due to acts 1911 and 1949. Each new parliament should be free to make or change what law it makes. No other body has the right to overrule the parliament.

Question 41

What are the limitations on parliament supremacy?

Answer 41

- Impractical to repeal certain Acts of Parliament. E.g. STATUTE COMMONWEALTH OF WESTMINISTER 1931 states that UK statutes should not extend to the commonwealth. - The HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 2008 states that all Acts of Parliament have to be compatible with the European Convention on Human rights. - The SCOTLAND ACT 1998 and WALES ACT 1998 have devolved (handed down) certain powers to the Scottish Parliament and to the Welsh assembly. As a result they make laws on some matters for their own countries without having get Parliament approval. - Limitations on parliamentary supremacy. EU law takes over priority over UK law. Shown in the MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1988.