Parliamentary Law Making and Law Reform

Question 1

What are laws made by parliament called?

Answer 1

Acts of parliament (also referred to as statutes or legislation)

Question 2

What are the 4 different types of Bills?

Answer 2

Public Bills
Private Bills
Private Member Bills
Hybrid Bills

Question 3

What is a public bill?

Answer 3

A public bill changes the law that applies to the general public. Government ministers introduce a majority of public bills and they affect the whole country or a part of it

Question 4

What is a private bill?

Answer 4

A private bill is designed to pass a law that will only affect specific individuals or occupations

Question 5

What is a private members bill?

Answer 5

Bills sponsored by individual MP’s. There will be a ballot to select who can present their bill to parliament

Question 6

What is a Hybrid Bill?

Answer 6

These are bills that affect the general public but would have a significant impact on specific people and occupations

Question 7

What three institutions are within the legislative process?

Answer 7

House of Lords
House of Commons
Monarch

Question 8

What is a green paper?

Answer 8

A paper containing the governments starting views and welcoming comments on an upcoming bill they are unsure of

Question 9

What is a white paper?

Answer 9

The government’s firm proposals for the new law after taking into consideration the discussions at the Green Paper stage.

Question 10

What happens during the first reading?

Answer 10

The name and main aims are read out during this stage and no discussion takes place.

Question 11

What happens during the Second Reading?

Answer 11

The Second Reading is the main debate in which MP’s debate over the main principles of the bill. The speaker controls the debate and you are unable to debate unless called upon by said speaker

Question 12

What happens during the Committee stage?

Answer 12

This is a thorough examination of all clauses within the bill and they are often examined by MP’s with special interest in the bill.

Question 13

What happens during the Report stage?

Answer 13

If any amendments are made they are sent to the House of Lords and are further debated and either accepted or rejected. More amendments can be added at this stage

Question 14

What happens during the Third Reading?

Answer 14

The Third Reading is the final vote however this is often a mere formality as it is unlikely to fail at such a late stage

Question 15

What is the legislative process for the House of Lords?

Answer 15

It is in essence the same however amendments are sent to the House of Commons instead of the House of Lords

Question 16

What is a Royal Assent?

Answer 16

This is the process in which the monarch gives their formal approval of the bill however this is also often a formality

Question 17

Advantages of the legislative process:

Answer 17

It is a democratic process
Thorough discussion and scrutiny between both houses of parliament

Question 18

Disadvantages of the legislative process:

Answer 18

The general public rarely getting their own say
Lots of “mere formalities” - becomes a slow process

Question 19

The 4 main influences on Parliament?

Answer 19

Government policy or manifesto promise
Media
Pressure Groups
Emergency Situations

Question 20

Examples of a government policy or manifesto promise:

Answer 20

The EU (withdrawal agreement) Act 2020 - This fulfilled the election manifesto of the Conservative Party 2019
Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - Enacted to fulfill the current PM’s priority policy to “stop the boats”

Question 21

Example for a media influence:

Answer 21

2023 American XL Bully Ban - This was a ban that was added to a pre-existing list under the Dangerous Dogs Act due to a large number of attacks throughout the media

Question 22

Examples of Pressure groups:

Answer 22

Sectional Pressure groups - Represents the interests of people, e.g a group of professionals

Question 23

Examples of Emergency Situations:

Answer 23

Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Scrutiny Act 2001 - This followed the attack on the Twin Towers in the 9/11 terrorist attack as a preventative measure due to the potential threat
Coronavirus Act 2020 - Due to the spread of COVID-19 this act was put through the process with haste.