Topic 2 - Creating Laws

Question 1

Statutory Law

Answer 1

Statutory law is passed by parliament when a bill is proposed in the House of Commons which is approved by the House of Lords and sanctioned by the crown as an act.

Question 2

Case Law

Answer 2

Case law is when a member of the judiciary makes a ruling on a case which sets a precedent for all other courts.

Question 3

Before Government

Answer 3

Green Paper - published by government department to provoke discussion
White Paper - governmental department publishes paper outlining consultation

Question 4

House of Commons

Answer 4

First Hearing: the bill is announced, initial vote held
Second Hearing: the bill is debated and the second vote is held
The committee stage - committee of ups examine the bill in detail and make appropriate changes
The report stage - the committee report back to HoC, and vote on any changes made in the committee changes
Third Stage - this is where the final hearing is heard and voted

Question 5

House of Lords

Answer 5

• the bill goes through the same steps but in House of Lords
• if amendments suggested it goes back to the House of Commons otherwise known as “ping pong”
• if accepted by House of Lords, it can proceed to royal assent

Question 6

Royal Assent

Answer 6

• if both the House of Commons and Lords pass the bill, it goes to the royal assent to be approved by the monarch

Question 7

Judicial Precedent

Answer 7

This is when a judge makes a ruling in certain cases in ones that have a grey area in the law which sets a precedent for future cases

Question 8

Statutory Interpretation

Answer 8

This is when a new law is created via interpretation a statue. Judges can modify the literal words of the statute to create a new law.