Parliament - Legislation Flashcards
(28 cards)
What are the 5 types of bill?
-Government bill, brought forward by government ministers and involves changes to public policy
-Private bill, sponsered by organisation amd affects that organisation
-Hybrid bill, has characteristics of both a Government and Private bill
-Private Member’s bill, introduced by a backbench MP or a member of the Lords and affects the entire population
What is an example of a landmark Private Member’s Bill?
The imposition of a duty on councils and NHS services to look after people with autism, passed in 2009, which was initiated by Cheryl Gillan MP
What are the different stages a bill must go through before it becomes law?
-First reading
-Second reading
-Committee stage
-Report stage
-Third reading
-Royal assent
In both the Commons and the Lords
What happens during the committe stage?
Bill is scrutinised in detail by a public bill committee, whose compositon reflects the strength of the different parties in the Commons
What happens during the report stage?
Whole House considers ammendments made at the committee stage and may accept or reject them
What happens during the third reading?
Amended bill is debated on and voted on by the whole house
What is parliamentary ping pong?
When a bill goes back and fourth between the House of Commons and the House of Lords for up to a year before it becomes law
How is the power of the Lords in the legislative process limited?
Lords can only propose ammendments and the Commons have to decide whether to accept or reject these ammendment ideas
What are two ways backbenchers can propose legislation?
-Private Members Bills
-Ten Minute rule bills
What are ‘ten minute rule bills’
Allow backbenchers to make their case for a new bill in a speech presentation lasting up to 10 minutes
What was the Assualt on Emergency Workers Act (2018)
-Proposed as Private Members Bill by Chris Bryant (Labour MP) in 2018
-Provides greater sentences for individuals who assualt emergency service workers while they are on duty
-Taken further by 2022 Conservative government in Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act. Doubling maximum sentence to two years
What statistic highlights the success of PMB’s
16 of PMB introduced by ballot in the 2022/23 session were successful including:
-The Protection of Sex-based Harassment in Public Act
What is the Terminally Ill Adults Bill (2024)
-Introduced by Kim Leadbeater (Labour MP)
-Attracted detailed and lengthy debate in its 2nd reading in which almost all MPs attended
-Gained majoroty of 55 votes in Commons during second reading
What limitation can the government place on PMB that they don’t support?
The government, as they have the vast majority in parliament, can whip MPs to vote against PMB
What statistic highlights the support of Government Bills Vs PMB?
In the 2022/23 Parliamentary session the government introduced 56 bills, of these 76% recieved royal assent
In contrast, in 2022/23 297 PMB’s were introduced, of which 8% recieved toyal assent
What is an example of controversial bill being passed
The Police, Crime, Sentancing and Courts Act 2022 was highly controversial due to concerns about limits to protest, however was still passed due to government majority, strengthened by the whip system, highlighting how parliamentary influence on legislation is limted.
What could parliament’s role in legislation be argued to be
Reactive, rather than proactive
How can select committee’s influence legislation?
Can conduct inquries and produce reports that shape legislation e.g Select Commitee influence Online Safety Act 2023 recommending stronger child protection provisions and clearer responsibility for tech companies
What are filbustering tactics?
Delaying tactics used by MPs or peers to block or slow down the passage of a bill. E.g in 2017 Philip Davies spoke for over 90 minutes during the second reading of PMB on upskirting, contributing to the bill running out of time
What is the significance of PMB being held on Fridays?
Fewer MPs are present and time is short
How did Select Committees impact Covid policy?
In 2021 The Health and Social Care Committee, chaired by Jeremy Hunt, produced a critical resport on the UK Covid 19 response, highlighting delays in lockdown and testing. This added significant pressure on the government.
What factors enhance parliament’s ability to affect legislation?
-Weak majorities
-Emergency issues e.g Covid
Give examples of bills that the laws have amended
-Nationality and Borders Act 2022
-Retained EU Law Act
How was Parliament able to have a significat role during Brexit
-May’s Brexit withdrawal agreement suffered 3 defeats with the first vote suffering a 230 vote loss
-The Benn Act, proposed by Labour MP and passed by oppostion MPs and Conservative rebels. Forcing Prime Minister to request an extension to the Brexit deadline if no deal was agreed to by a certain date, blocking a no deal Brexit.
