Statue Law

Question 1

1) Pressure for Change from

Answer 1

A pressure group
Moral Panic - media
Government’s Own Manifesto Promise

Question 2

2) is

Answer 2

Private Member’s Bill

Question 3

3) Green Paper

Answer 3

issued by the Government containing key ideas for a law. Comments are invited.

Question 4

4) White Paper

Answer 4

published - draws together all the consultation from which a bill can be drafted by the Drafting Committee but it can still be very long.

Question 5

5) First Reading

Answer 5

Introduces the Bill to the House of Commons

At this stage there is no debate

Question 6

6) Second Reading

Answer 6

The ideas behind the bill, rather than the details are debated in the House of Commons and a vote is taken to see if there is enough interest for the bill to continue for detailed consideration.

Question 7

7) Committee Stage

Answer 7

A standing committee made up of 16 - 20 MPs from all parties examined the contents of the bill clause by clause. Sometimes details are changed.

Question 8

8) Report stage

Answer 8

The bill is reintroduced into the House of Commons. Further changes can be made.

Question 9

9) Third reading

Answer 9

The bill is debated in order to approve it in its latest form. If it is approved it is sent to the House of Lords.

Question 10

10) House of Lords

Answer 10

Much the same as in the Commons, except that the committee stage is done by the whole House. Also the third reading may take longer. The Lords can refuse to approve a bill and suggest changes, but they can’t deal a bill for more than one year.

Question 11

11) House of Commons

Answer 11

The Bill is passed back to the House of Commons

Question 12

12) Royal Assent

Answer 12

The bill is finally passed to the monarch for royal asset. This is formality - the king or queen cannot make any changes

Question 13

13) Act of Parliament

Answer 13

The bill becomes an Act of Parliament - statute law.