Parliamentary Law Making P2

Question 1

What are the three types of law?

Answer 1

• Private bill
• Public bill
• Hybrid bill

Question 2

What’s a private bill?

Answer 2

Laws which only apply to particular individuals or organisations.

Question 3

What’s a public bill?

Answer 3

Laws which apply to the whole country, suggested by gov.

Question 4

What can public bills start as?

Answer 4

Gov bills- introduced by gov and carries out their manifesto promises.
Private members bills- introduced by back bench MPs, but less likely to succeed unless support of gov.

Question 5

What’s a hybrid bill?

Answer 5

Laws that impact public but also specific effects on certain people//groups.

Question 6

What are the 5 Pre-Parliamentary stages?

Answer 6

Idea stage
Consultation stage
Green paper
White paper
Drafting stage

Question 7

Idea stage

Answer 7

Idea for new law, normally devised by gov.

Question 8

Consultation stage

Answer 8

The idea is discussed with experts

Question 9

Green Paper

Answer 9

Discussion document that sets out the idea for the new law but may include several alternatives.

Question 10

White Paper

Answer 10

Finalised version of the idea which is the government’s ‘statement of intent’

Question 11

Drafting Stage

Answer 11

Idea written into legal terminology by the parliamentary counsel - it is now a bill.

Question 12

What are the 7 parliamentary stages?

Answer 12

First reading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report stage
Third reading
House of Lords (usually)
Royal assent

Question 13

First Reading

Answer 13

Name and aims of bill read out by sponsoring MP, no discussion or voting, second reading date set.

Question 14

Second Reading

Answer 14

• Whole House debates the bill and votes either ‘aye’ or ‘no’, (verbal vote) the Speaker announces who has won the vote.
• Or if uncertain, use formal voting of splitting each in favour or not into different rooms.

Question 15

Committee Stage

Answer 15

• Small group (16-50) of MPs//lords reviewing bill.
• Chosen by special interest or those with knowledge on topic.

Question 16

Report Stage

Answer 16

Amendments reported back to house ,debated and voted on.

Question 17

Third Reading

Answer 17

Final reading of the bill and then the bill is said to have ‘passed through the house’

Question 18

Other Houses

Answer 18

• If bill began in commons, passes to bills and vice versa.
• 5 stages repeated in the new house, will have to be passed back and forth until agreeable.

Question 19

Royal Assent

Answer 19

Bill becomes an Act of Parliament once thte Queen signs it.

Question 20

Advantages of the Legislation Process

Answer 20

• Long process allows time for the bill to be effectively scrutinised and checked for errors.
• First reading allow the opposition to prepare an argument against the bill for the second reading.
• House of Lords contain many legal experts and so is used as a ‘safety net’ for checking the bill for errors.

Question 21

Disadvantages of the Legislative Process

Answer 21

• Slow and lengthy, delaying necessary laws.
• House of Commons can override the Lords, limiting scrutiny. PARLIAMENT ACT 1911
• Public consultations may not reflect diverse opinions.
• Political agendas can marginalise important issues.

Question 22

Bill

Answer 22

• Name of draft law before going through parliament

Question 23

Act of Parliament

Answer 23

• A law that’s already been passed through the parliament, official law.