Legislation Flashcards
(19 cards)
Case Law
Decisions of the courts. also referred to as common law.
Statutes
Legislation. Acts made and passed by parliament
Delegated Legislation
Laws parliament have delegated to other bodies to make.
Parliament
- Highest legislative authority in the U.K
- It checks the work of government and examines, debates and approves new laws
- It consists of the House of commons and the House of lords
Government
- Runs the country and has responsibility for developing and implementing policy and drafting new laws
- It is formed by the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons in the general election
- The party leader becomes PM and appoints Ministers elected in the House of Commons form the same party to form the cabinet
Bill
- Proposed legislation is introduced to the House of Commons as Bills.
- These must be debated and approved by Parliament
Private Bill
- These are proposed laws particular to a specific organisation or section of the population.
- Whitehaven harbour bill
Public Bill
- These are proposed laws aimed at the public as a whole. The vast majority of these bills are of this type and are mainly introduced by the government.
- PACE 1984
Private members bill
- MP’s who wish to introduce a PMB enter their names into a ballet and 20 names are pulled out. They are given limited time to introduce it.
- These bills are rarely passed, but are a good way of introducing the issue to the public arena.
- Abortion act 1967
Green paper
- Published by the government
- Sets out reasons for wishing to create new laws
- sets broad proposals as to what form the new laws would take.
- responses are invited
White paper
- After responses are received, more detailed proposals will be written
- feedback is given again
- once feedback is given, a bill is drafted and put before parliament.
Stages of acts of Parliament
- First reading
- Second reading
- Committee stage
- Report stage
- Third reading
- House of Lords
- Royal assent
- First reading
The bill is formally introduced
- Second reading
Aims and proposals of the bill are debated and is then voted on.
- Committee stage
Details are discussed by standing MP’s from different parties
- Report stage
The hose considers amendments and may make further changes
- Third reading
The bill as a whole is debated and then is voted on
- House of Lords
Bill goes through the same 5 stages and if the lords accept it it moves on but if they decline it then it is delayed for a year. also if they make changes to it then it has to go back through the same 5 stages again until it is passed.
- Royal assent
The queen gives her approval
