the legislative process Flashcards
stage 1: green paper [pre-legislative process]
consultation documents that allow people inside and outside of Parliament to give feedback
stage 2: white paper [pre-legislative process]
these set out firm proposals for future legislation
stage 3: draft bill [pre-legislative process]
these outline the bill before the bill is introduced and pre-legislative scrutiny takes place by either the HoL or the HoC or mix of both
stage 4: first reading
this is when the bill is introduced and the name of the bill is read out
stage 5: second reading
when a bill is first debated and a vote is made on a reasoned amendment but details of the bill cannot be changed
stage 6: committee stage
16-50 mp’s examine the details of the bill with thorough scrutiny clause by clause
stage 7: report stage
amendments to the bill are reported and new clauses can be added
stage 8: third reading
the final changes are made and the final vote is taken
stage 9: other house
the bill is passed to the other house [House of Commons to the House of Lords repeated] and these stages are repeated -> Parliamentary ping pong e.g. The Hunting Act 2004 which was passed back 11 times
stage 10: royal assent
the monarch approves the bill and the bill comes into force at midnight or at a set date e.g. The Human Rights Act 1998 -> came into force 1st of January
advantages of the legislative process
- thorough and allows chance for debate and scrutiny
- democratic as the HoC is elected into power
- HoL is good system that laws that are being passed debated and passed are clear and relevant
- flexibility of the law system due to different types of bills
disadvantages of the legislative process
- undemocratic as HoL are not elected so they can change whatever with no influence
- slow, can take months/years to pass a bill
- a lot of language, statutes and evidence are outdated
