Private Members Bills Flashcards
What is a PRIVATE MEMBERS BILL
A Public bill that is proposed by a backbench MP (or HOL peer)
They are introduced with the aim of changing the law on specific issues
How are PMB’s chosen
A backbench MP has to submit a SHORT TITLE — of what the bill will be known and a LONG TITLE — Giving a longer description of the proposed bill and what it is intended to do.
There are Three possible ways a bill is selected:
*BALLOT: have best chance of becoming law as they are given the most legislative time. MP’s put forward their PMB’s at the start of the Parliamentary year and 20 ARE CHOSEN BY BALLOT. The FIRST 7 GET A DAYS DEBATE (Jim Allister won a slot and came 7th in 2024)
*TEN MINUTE RULE: Opportunity for members to voice an opinion on a subject or aspect of legislation.
-NOT A REAL ATTEMPT TO GET A BILL PASSED. Members make speeches no longer than 10 mins, outlining their position. Other members may oppose them
-It is a good opportunity to raise the profile of issues and assess potential support
*PRESENTATION: Any member may introduce a bill as long as they have given notice
-MP’s introduce the title but don’t speak in favour of it
-They rarely become law
Why are PMB’s rarely successful
- Vast majority of HOC bills are GOVERNMENT BILLS
- HOC has LITTLE LEGISLATIVE TIME for the government to pass all the legislation it wants
- Government often defeats unwanted PMB’s by ‘TALKING OUT THE BILL’ (MP’s debate the bill for so long that it runs out of legislative time)
- For a PMB to have a chance of passing it NEEDS GOVERNMENT SUPPORT OR NEUTRALITY
- They are DEBATED ON FRIDAY when debates are poorly attended and many MP’S are on constituency business
Eg Steve Rotherams tyre safety bill
Are all PMB’s ineffective
*Some of the most monumental legislation of the 20th century has been introduced through PMB’s
-THE MURDER ACT (1965)
-THE ADOPTION ACT (1964)
-THE ABORTION ACT (1967)
-THE GANGMASTERS ACT (2004)
Why has all the important legislation been passed by PMB’s
*issues involved are importing but often controversial
*governments would often back controversial issues with their clandestine support as a means of getting difficult policies passed
*they provide the sponsoring MP the legislative time and even the use of the Whip if needed
