Parliamentary Law Making - Paper 2

Question 1

What is parliament made up of?

Answer 1

1. House of Commons
2. Houser of Lords
3. Monarch

Question 2

How are the members of the house of commons chosen and how does this effect what chamber they are?

Answer 2

The house of commons is the elected chamber because the members of parliament are chosen through general elections.

Question 3

What is the house of commons central role?

Answer 3

1. Debating
2. Scrutinising
3. Passing laws

Question 4

How are the lords appointed in the house of lords and why does that make it a technocratic house?

Answer 4

Lords are appointed or some are hereditary and so the house becomes technocratic because its members are appointed based on their expertise, knowledge and experience in specific fields.

Question 5

What is the house of lords main role?

Answer 5

1. Scrutinise legislation
2. Refine legislation

Question 6

Why were the parliament acts introduced?

Answer 6

To reduce the power of the unelected house of lords in the law making process

Question 7

Explain what happened in both of the parliament acts and give the year it took place:

Answer 7

1. Parliament Act 1911 = removed the lords ability to veto money bills completely and limited power to delay public bills.
2. Parliament Act 1949 = Further reduced the lords power to delay non money bills

Question 8

What is the main constitutional duties of the monarch?

Answer 8

1. Opening and dissolving parliament
2. Approving bills

Question 9

Give the main stages of the parliamentary process:

Answer 9

• First reading
• Second reading
• Committee stage
• Report stage
• Third reading
• Over to the other house
• Consideration of amendments
• Royal assent

Question 10

Explain what happens in the first reading:

Answer 10

The bill is introduced

Question 11

Explain what happens in the second reading:

Answer 11

The general principles of the bill are debated on by MPs or Lords and a vote is taken

Question 12

Explain what happens in the committee stage:

Answer 12

The bill is examined in detail by a committee of MPs or Lords

Question 13

Explain what happens in the report stage:

Answer 13

The committee reports back on the changes made

Question 14

Explain what happens in the third reading:

Answer 14

The final version of the bill is debated and voted on

Question 15

Explain what happens in the over to the other house:

Answer 15

The bill moves to the other house to go through the same stages

Question 16

Explain what happens in the consideration of amendments:

Answer 16

Both houses must agree on the final version of the bill.

Question 17

Explain what happens in the royal assent:

Answer 17

Once both houses agree, the bill receives royal assent from the monarch and can become law.

Question 18

What are the two phases of the legislative process?

Answer 18

1) Green and white papers
2) Bills

Question 19

Name the three different types of bill and give an example case of each:

Answer 19

1. Public bill (the coronavirus act)
2. Private bill (the transport act)
3. Private members bill (the homelessness reduction act)

Question 20

Name the key function of parliament:

Answer 20

Law making and holding the government account

Question 21

Name the key function of the executive:

Answer 21

Enforcing laws and running government affairs

Question 22

Name the key functions of the judiciary:

Answer 22

Interpreting and applying the law

Question 23

What two ideas is Dicey’s conception based on?

Answer 23

1. Unlimited legislative authority
2. No challenge to acts of parliament

Question 24

Give three ‘challenges’ to parliamentary sovereignty:

Answer 24

1 - Devolution
2 - Human rights
3 - International treaties

Question 25

Give an advantage and disadvantage of the parliamentary process:

Answer 25

Advantage is that it is democratic so it does take into account the voice of the people.

Disadvantage is that it is time consuming and complex and so can take a very long time which only increases the problem.