AC 1.1 - Laws and Judges

Question 1

The House of Lords

Answer 1

The upper house of the British parliament. Members are called peers and it’s a hereditary position.

Question 2

The House of Commons

Answer 2

The first legislative body of Parliament whose members are elected by the people.

Question 3

Green Paper

Answer 3

An initial report to provoke public discussion of the subject.
Includes questions for interested individuals and organisations to respond to.

Question 4

White Paper

Answer 4

A document setting out the detailed plans for legislation.
Includes a draft version of the bill that they intend to put before parliament.

Question 5

First Reading

Answer 5

Formal introductions of the bill into the Commons. Followed by a vote in the House of Commons.

Question 6

Second Reading

Answer 6

Main debate on bill’s principles. Members of parliament vote and if it passes the it moves onto the committee stage.

Question 7

Committee Stage

Answer 7

Bill is examined in detail by a small committee of MPs from different parties who report back to the whole house with amendments to the bill.

Question 8

Report Stage

Answer 8

Committee members report back to the House. The House reviews amendments to the bill.

Question 9

Third Reading

Answer 9

The House of Commons has a chance to accept or reject the changes to the bill before passing it on to the Senate.

Question 10

What happens during the act of parliament?

Answer 10

New law will come into force immediately or at a set date

Question 11

Royal Assent

Answer 11

A bill must be signed by the King’s representative in order for it to become law.

Question 12

The Court Hierarchy

Answer 12

The ranking of courts according to the seriousness of the matters they deal with.

Question 13

Exceptions to Precedent - Distinguishing

Answer 13

The judge finds the facts in the present case are different enough from the earlier one to allow them to reach a different decision and not have to follow the precedent of the earlier case.

Question 14

Exceptions to Precedent - Overruling

Answer 14

When a court higher up the hierarchy states that a legal decision in an earlier case is wrong and overturned it.

Question 15

The Literal Rule

Answer 15

Requires the statutory words to be given their ordinary meaning.

Question 16

The Golden Rule

Answer 16

Sometimes the literal can lead to an absurd result and the golden rule allows the court to modify the literal meaning to avoid this.

Question 17

The Mischief Rule

Answer 17

The mischief rule allows the court to enforce what the statute was intended to achieve, rather than what the words actually say.