THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS - TOPIC 2

Question 1

WHAT IS A BILL?

Answer 1

A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW LAW OR A PROPOSAL FOR A CHANGE TO AN EXISTING LAW THAT IS PRESENTED FOR DEBATE B4 PARLIAMENT.

Question 2

WHAT IS AN ACT?

Answer 2

A BILL THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY BOTH THE HOC AND HOL AND BEEN GIVEN ROYAL ASSENT BY THE MONARCH.

Question 3

WHAT IS A PUBLIC BILL?

Answer 3

A PROPOSED LAW THAT WOULD AFFECT EVERYONE WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION.

Question 4

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PUBLIC BILL?

Answer 4

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY ACT 2024

Question 5

WHAT IS A PRIVATE BILL?

Answer 5

PROMOTED BY ORGANISATIONS E.G PRIVATE COMPANIES TO GIVE THEMSELVES POWER BEYONG THE GENERAL LAW. GROUPS AFFECTED BY THESE CHANGES CAN PETITION PARIAMENT AGAINST THE PROPOSED BILL AND PRESENT THEIR OBJECTIONS TO COMMITTEES OF MPS AND LORDS.

Question 6

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PRIVATE BILL?

Answer 6

BISHOPS STORTFORD CEMETERY ACT 2024

Question 7

WHAT IS A HYBRID BILL?

Answer 7

MIX CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BILLS. CHANGES PROPOSED BY HYDRBID BILLS AFFECT THE GENERAL PUBLIC BUT MAY HAVE A MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SPECIFIC GROUPS

Question 8

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A HYBRID BILL?

Answer 8

HYBRID BILL MADE PROVISION FOR THE HS2 RAIL NETWORK.
HYBRID BILL LED TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHANNEL TUNNEL AND CROSSRAIL.

Question 9

WHAT IS A PRIVATE MEMBERS BILL (PMB) ?

Answer 9

PUBLIC BILLS INTRODUCED BY MPS AND LORDS WHO AREN’T GOVT MINISTERS.

Question 10

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PMB?

Answer 10

PET ABDUCTION ACT OF 2024 SPONSORED BY ANNA FIRTH AND LORD BLACK OF BRENTWOOD.
ABORTION ACT OF 1967

Question 11

WHY DO SO FEW PMB’s PASS?

Answer 11

LESS PARLIAMENTARY TIME GIVEN TO PMBs - LOW PRIORITY BILL. OFTEN DEBATED ON FRIDAYS WHICH IS A POORLY ATTENDED DAY AS MPS RETURN TO THEIR CONSTIUENCIES.

Question 12

WHAT IS LEGISLATIVE PING PONG?

Answer 12

USED TO DESCRIBE A SITUATION WHERE A BILL APPEARS TO RAPIDLY BOUNCE BACK BETWEEN THE 2 CHAMBERS. REFERS TO THE TO AND FRO OF AMMENDMENTS TO BILLS AND OCCURS DUE TO BICAMERAL NATURE OF UK PARLIAMENT.

Question 13

WHEN DOES PING PONG END?

Answer 13

1. BOTH HOC AND HOL AGREE ON FINAL VERSION OF BILL’
2. HOC ASSERS ITS AUTHORITY THROUGH PARLIAMENT ACTS
3. LORDS BACK DOWN TO AVOID CONFLICT
4. BILL IS WITHDRAWN IF AGREEMENT APPEARS IMPOSSIBLE OR GOVT SHIFTS FOCUS.

Question 14

WHAT IS SECONDARY LEGISLATION?

Answer 14

LAW CREATED BY MINISTERS UNDER POWERS GIVEN TO THEM BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT. ALLOWS PARLIAMENT TO DELEGATE SOME OF ITS LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO OTHER BODIES E.G GOVT MINISTERS OR LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

Question 15

WHY IS SECONDARY LEGISLATION USED?

Answer 15

HELPS PARLIAMENT AVOID BEING OVERWHELMED BY NEED TO HANDLE COMPLEX DETAILS OF LEGISLATION ALLOWING IT TO FOCUS ON BROADER PRINCIPLES.

Question 16

WHAT IS THE FIRST READING?

Answer 16

TITLE OF BILL AND WHAT IT INCLUDES IS READ OUT.

Question 17

WHAT OCCURS AT THE FIRST READING?

Answer 17

NO DEBATE OR DISCUSSION - SIMPLY A PROCEDURAL FORMALITY TO GIVE NOTICE THAT THE BILL EXISTS.

Question 18

WHAT IS THE SECOND READING?

Answer 18

FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR MPS TO DEBATE THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF A BILL.

Question 19

WHAT OCCURS DURING THE SECOND READING?

Answer 19

1. MP WHO INTRODUCED BILL EXPLAINS ITS PURPOSE
2. OPPOSITION RESPOND BY SETTING OUT VIEWS ON BILL
3. GENERAL DEBATE WHICH COVERS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF A BILL
4. VOTE IS TAKEN AS TO WHETHER IT SHOULD PROCEED TO NEXT STAGE - PARTY WHIP ENSURES MEMBERS VOTE IN SUPPORT OF GOVT.

Question 20

WHAT IS THE COMMITTEE STAGE?

Answer 20

BILL REFERRED TO HOC BILL COMMITTEE FOR DETAILED EXAMINATION

Question 21

WHAT OCCURS AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE?

Answer 21

1. MEMBERS CAN PROPOSE AMENDMENTS.
2. LINE BY LINE SCRUTINY OF BILL
3. COMMITTES MAY TAKE ORAL OR WRITTEN EVIDENCE FROM EXPERTS THAT MAY INFORM THEIR AMENDMENTS.

Question 22

WHAT IS THE REPORT STAGE?

Answer 22

WHEN THE BILL COMMITTEE REPORT THE DEBATE AND AMENDMENTS BACK TO THE HOUSE.

Question 23

WHAT OCCURS AT THE REPORT STAGE?

Answer 23

1. FOCUS ON SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS RATHER THAN OVERALL PRINCIPLES OF BILL.
2. USED TO MAKE TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS TO BILL/ CORRECT DRAFTING ERRORS

Question 24

WHAT IS THE 3RD READING?

Answer 24

FINAL CONSIDERATION OF BILL IN ITS CURRENT FORM. FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT OR REJECT BILL B4 IT MOVES TO OTHER HOUSE.

Question 25

WHAT OCCURS AT THE 3RD READING?

Answer 25

1.ONLY MINOR/ TECHNICAL ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED
2. MEMBER WHO PROPOSED BILL SUMMARISES ITS PURPOSE AND EXPLAINS CHANGES SINCE IT WAS INTRODUCED - PROVIDES RECAP OF LEGISLATIVE JOURNEY
3. VOTE ON WHETHER BILL SHOULD BE ACCEPTED OR REJECT FOR FINAL TIME.

Question 26

WHAT IS ROYAL ASSENT?

Answer 26

MONARCH FORMALLY APPROVES BILL THEN IT BECOMES AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT.

Question 27

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME A BILL WAS REJECTED ROYAL ASSENT?

Answer 27

QUEEN ANNE IN 1707 WHERE SHE REJECTED SCOTTISH MILITIA BILL.