law making

Question 1

green paper

Answer 1

a consultative document where the governments view is put forward with proposals for law reform
- parties send comments so changes can be made to proposals

Question 2

white paper

Answer 2

contains governments firm proposals for new law

Question 3

bill

Answer 3

once white paper has been published the proposals are drafted into a bill.
- proposed act of parliament only if it completes all stages of the legislative process.

Question 4

public bill

Answer 4

public policy affecting country or a large section of it
- private members can introduce a public bill (abortion act 1967)
- can be introduced by anyone in parliament / government minister
- legal services act 2007
- criminal justice and courts act 2015

Question 5

private bill

Answer 5

only affects individuals or corporations - not the whole community
- can be introduced by anyone in parliament / government ministers
- highgate cemetery act

Question 6

private members bill

Answer 6

individual mp’s introduce a bill (back benchers)
- either by a ballot or the ten minute rule
- a specific type of private / public bill but are not a priority for the government at the time

Question 7

ballot

Answer 7

20 private members take turn presenting a bill to parliament
- debate is limited to a Friday so few members can introduce their bill

Question 8

ten minute rule

Answer 8

an MP can make a speech up to 10 minutes introducing their bill