Pre-Legislative Process&Introducing an Act of Parliament

Question 1

On major matters, who may issue a Green Paper?

Answer 1

by the Minister with responsibility for that matter

Question 2

What is a green paper?

Answer 2

a green paper is a consultative document on a topic in which the Governments view is put forward with proposals for law reform

Question 3

Who is allowed to review the Green Paper and why?

Answer 3

interested parties are invited to send comments to the relevant government department so yay a full consideration of all sides can be made and necessary changes made to the Governments proposals

Question 4

Following amendments to the Green Paper, what will the Government then publish?

Answer 4

the White Paper

Question 5

What will a White Paper include?

Answer 5

firm proposals for new law (after reviewing the green paper which is the initial ideas)

Question 6

Who introduces the great majority of Acts of Parliament?

Answer 6

the government

Question 7

When the proposed Act has been drafted it is published, what is it at this stage called?

Answer 7

a Bill

Question 8

When will a Bill become an Act of Parliament?

Answer 8

when it successfully completes all the necessary stages in Parliament (passes both houses)

Question 9

What is a Public Bill?

Answer 9

Public Bills involve matters of public policy which will effect he whole country or a large section of it

Question 10

Give 3 examples of Public Bills

Answer 10

• Constitutional Reform Act 2005
• Legal Services Act 2007
• Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Question 11

What are Private Bills?

Answer 11

A small number of Bills are designed to pass a law which will affect only individual people or corporations , not affecting the whole community

Question 12

What is a recent example of a Private Bill?

Answer 12

Whitehaven Harbour Bill passed by Parliament and now the Whitehaven Harbour Act 2007 transferring all rights and obligations of the harbour from 3 separate companies to the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners

Question 13

What is a Private Members Ballot?

Answer 13

The parliamentary process allows a ballot each session in which 20 private members are selected who can then taken their turn in presenting a Bill to Parliament

Question 14

When are Private Members Bills debated?

Answer 14

usually on Fridays

Question 15

How many Private Members have a realistic chance of introducing a Bill on their chosen topic?

Answer 15

first 6 or 7

Question 16

Very few Private Members Bills become law, give an example of 3

Answer 16

• Abortion Act 1967 which legalised abortion
• Marriages Act 1994 introduced by Giles Brandreth
• Household Waste Recycling Act 2003

Question 17

What did the Private Members Bill , Marriages act 1994 allow? introduced by who ?

Answer 17

Introduced by Giles Brandreth allowed people to marry in any registered place not only in Register Offices or religious buildings

Question 18

What did the Household Recycling Act 2003 do?

Answer 18

places local authorities under a duty to recycle waste

Question 19

What is the “Ten-minute Rule”, what does it do

Answer 19

backbenchers can also try to introduce a Bill through this method under which any MP can make a speech of up to 10 minutes supporting the introduction of new legislation

Question 20

How successful is the “Ten-Minute Rule”

Answer 20

rarely successful unless there is no opposition to the Bill

Question 21

What acts have been introduced through use of the “Ten-Minute Rule”?

Answer 21

-Bail (Amendment) Act 1993

Question 22

What did the Bail(Amendment) Act 1993 do ?

Answer 22

gave the prosecution the right to appeal against the granting of bail to a defendant