Parliamentary Law Making - Paper 2 Flashcards
What are the three institutions of Parliament?
House of Commons, House of Lords, and the Monarch
Describe the composition of the House of Commons
Consists of MPs elected at a general election. The political party with the most seats in the Commons forms the government
Describe the composition of the House of Lords
It is a non-elected body made up of life peers, hereditary peers, and senior bishops
Which Acts of Parliament made the House of Lords less powerful than the House of Commons?
The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949
Name the current Monarch and their function in the parliamentary process
King Charles III, and gives Royal Assent to a Bill
What are the two types of Bill?
Public Bills and Private Members Bills
What is the difference between public bills and private members bills?
Public Bills are introduced by the government and involve matters of public policy, whereas Private Members Bills are introduced by individual MPs
What is Dicey’s definition of parliamentary supremacy?
Parliament can legislate on any subject matter with no limits
No Parliament can be bound by any previous Parliament pass an Act which will bind a successor
No other body has the right to override or set aside an Act of Parliament
What are the three limitations on parliamentary supremacy?
The effect of the Human Rights Act 1998, Devolution, EU Membership
What is a Green Paper?
An idea for a new law, a consultation document
What is a White Paper?
A firm proposal for a new law
Explain what happens during the First Reading?
Minister gives information about the Bill, including its name and main aims
Explain what happens during the Second Reading?
Main debate about the main principles of the Bill, not the smaller details. There is a vote on whether the Bill should proceed to the next stage
Explain what happens during the Committee Stage?
Detailed examination of the Bill by a committee of between 15-60 MPs. Every line of the Bill is examined and amendments can be made
Describe what happens during the Report Stage?
Committee reports back any amendments to the House. If there are no amendments, there is no report stage