Passing of a bill Flashcards
List all stages in the passing of a bill
First Reading Second Reading Committee stage Report stage Third reading repeat process royal assent
Describe what happens in the first reading
> A bill may start in the house of lords (house of commons if it is a finance bill)
This state is to formally announce bill
Title is read out
Order to be printed is made
If draft bill not ready a dummy will be made
Date set for second reading
No vote or debate
Describe what happens in the second reading
> Minister or MP responsible will describe aims off bill
He will field questions
Formal debate conducted by a speaker
Debate focuses on the larger principles as opposed to small
No vote or debate
Describe what happens in the committee stage
> Detailed scrutinize of bill
Bills are considered by Public Bill Committees between 15-60 MP’s.
Membership to these committees is proportionate to the number of seats the party holds in the commons
Members will be chosen on their expertise in the field
Separate committee is formed for each individual bill
Amendments made as discussed in second reading
Whole house sit as a committee for important bills
Describe what happens in the report stage
> After amendments committee report back to parliaments and inform the house on any amendments made
If no amendments it goes straight to third reading
Amendments are debated and accepted or rejected
This stage acts as a safeguard to a small committee ‘hyjackiing’ a bill and amending it beyond its original purpose
What happens in the third reading
> This is the final chance to view the bill as a whole with all amendments
The house will decide its movement whether it is to go ahead or not
The bill can not be changed
Passed to the ‘other place’ (ping pong)
What happens in the repeat process
> The other place receives the bill ie. the opposite house either the lords or commons.
If the bill began in the lords it will be passed to commons to amend and then it is passed back with no prospect of resolution.
This situation can be resolved by the parliaments act 1911 where the HOC can pass legislation without approval of HOL
War crimes act
What happens in the royal assent stage
> Monarch of the day gives consent
Bill becomes an act of parliament
Short title is read out and assent is automatically given
The monarch has the power to withhold assent but this has not happened since Queen Anne with the Scottish Millita bill
On the day assent it given, the bill comes into force the next day.
Human rights act passed 1998, came into force 2000
Describe the green paper stage
> A document which sets out an idea for a new law and the idea behind it
The minister for the relevant department will be responsible for green paper which allows for debates on the proposal directed to the appropriate minister
Everyone that may be affected by the new law an have opinions and the minister may have to re-draft
example a new traffic law- those involved may be insurance companies, police or the AA
Describe the white paper stage
> When minister has made amendments, it is passed to Cabnate committee and approved by whole cabinet before being passed to parliamentary draftsmen
