pre-legislative process Flashcards
booklet 3
what is a green paper?
A document on a topic in which the Government’s view is put forward with proposals for law reform
Interested parties are then invited to send comments to the government department so necessary changes can be made to the proposals
what is the white paper
A document containing the Governments firm proposals for new law
what are the three different types of bills that can be drawn up?
public, private, private members bill
what are public bills?
(2 examples)
This is a Bill that involves matter of public policy which will affect either the whole country or a large section of it.
These bills are introduced by the Government and are by far the most common, for example:
Equality Act 2010; Human Rights Act 1998
what is a private bill?
(1 example)
This is a Bill that is designed to only affect individual people or corporations. These do not affect the whole public at large. They are usually introduced by the government after a petition to Parliament by those involved.
Edward Berry and Doris Eileen Ward (Marriage Enabling) Act 1980.
Edward Berry and Doris Eileen Ward (Marriage Enabling) Act 1980- explained
they didn’t live a step mother and son relationship as they were introduced to each other due to the death of their shared relation they came together and grieved together and wanted to get married and they were old so they allowed it
what is a private members bill? (2 examples)
This is where individual MPs (not connected to government) introduce a Bill into Parliament. These MP’s are called backbenchers.
The bill will affect the whole public.
These are usually moral, ethical and non-political issues, which parties will not usually make a stand on.
Examples include the Murder (Abolition of the Death Penalty) Act 1965 (Sydney Silverman MP) and the Abortion Act 1967 (David Steel MP)
what are the 2 ways a private members bill can be introduced to parliament?
ballot
10 minute rule
how does the ballot work? why is it not that successful?
Each Parliamentary session ideas from 20 private members are selected from a ballot, and they will then be given a timetabled slot to discuss their bill.
Time for debate of private members’ bills is limited to Friday so relatively few members off the list of 20 have a chance to introduce their Bill.
Relatively few become law though there have been some important laws
how does the 10 minute rule work?
why is it not that successful?
which an MP can make a speech of up to 10 minutes supporting the new law and attempting to gain the support of the house.
This method is rarely successful unless there is no opposition to the Bill but some have been introduced in this way
