Legislation

Question 1

What is the main law making body in England?

Answer 1

Parliament

Question 2

What does parliament do?

Answer 2

Creates statutes and delegated legislation

Question 3

How many pieces of legislation are passed annually?

Answer 3

60 - 70

Question 4

What does parliament consist of?

Answer 4

House of Commons and House of Lords

Question 5

Briefly, what is the pre-legislative procedure?

Answer 5

It consists of the green and white paper

Question 6

Who issues a green paper?

Answer 6

The minister with the responsibility for the matter

Question 7

What type of document is a green paper?

Answer 7

A consultative document

Question 8

What is within the green paper?

Answer 8

The governments view on the matter is put forward with proposals for change

Question 9

Describe the green paper…

Answer 9

It’s a consultative document on a topic in which the governments view is put forward with proposals for change. Interested parties are invited to comment so that full consideration can be made and necessary changes implemented if needs be.

Question 10

Why are consultations valuable?

Answer 10

It allows for more consideration and avoids a knee jerk reaction to incidents which sometimes result in unworkable legislation

Question 11

What is an example of a knee jerk reaction?

Answer 11

The dangerous dogs act 1991

Question 12

What act was created in 1991?

Answer 12

The dangerous dogs act

Question 13

When was the dangerous dogs act created?

Answer 13

1991

Question 14

What is the stage after the green paper?

Answer 14

The white paper

Question 15

Who publishes the white paper?

Answer 15

The government

Question 16

What is contained in the White paper?

Answer 16

Firm proposals for the new law

Question 17

What is a bill?

Answer 17

When a proposed act is published and going through the parliamentary process

Question 18

What are the three types of Bill?

Answer 18

Private members bills
Private bills
Public bills

Question 19

Who introduces a private members bill?

Answer 19

An individual mp or members of the House of Lords rather than a government minister

Question 20

When is debating time for private members bills?

Answer 20

Friday’s

Question 21

What is the issue with problem with debating being limited to Friday’s?

Answer 21

Only the first six or seven MPs in the ballot have a realistic chance of introducing their chosen bill

Question 22

What is the success rate of private members bills?

Answer 22

Very few become acts

Question 23

What are some examples of private members bills?

Answer 23

The abortion act 1967

The marriage act 1994

Question 24

When was the abortion act made?

Answer 24

1967

Question 25

What act was made in 1967?

Answer 25

The abortion act

Question 26

When was the marriage act created?

Answer 26

1994

Question 27

What act was passed in 1994?

Answer 27

The marriage act

Question 28

What is the ten minute rule?

Answer 28

It is when back benchers try to introduce a bill through this rule. Any mp can make a speech of up to ten minutes supporting the introduction of new legislation

Question 29

How successful is the ten minute rule?

Answer 29

Very few acts are passed this way

Question 30

What is an example of an act passed via the ten minute rule?

Answer 30

The bail (amendment) act 1993

Question 31

What act was passed in 1993?

Answer 31

The bail (amendment) act 1993

Question 32

When was the bail (amendment) act created?

Answer 32

1993

Question 33

Who do private bills affect?

Answer 33

These affect one particular area or organisation

Question 34

What is an example of a private members bill?

Answer 34

University college London act 1996

Question 35

What act was passed in 1996?

Answer 35

The university college London act

Question 36

When was the university college London act created?

Answer 36

1996

Question 37

Who is affected by public bills?

Answer 37

The public as a whole as they usually change the law throughout the whole country

Question 38

What category do most public bills fall into?

Answer 38

Public bills

Question 39

What is an example of a public bill?

Answer 39

Disability discrimination act 1995

Question 40

What act was passed in 1995?

Answer 40

The disability discrimination act

Question 41

When was the disability discrimination act passed?

Answer 41

1995

Question 42

Who introduces public bills?

Answer 42

The relevant government minister

Question 43

Why are public bills generally successful?

Answer 43

They're usually successful because the government will have a majority in party because MPs vote with their party not as individuals