Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
(38 cards)
What are the three components of Parliament?
The House of Commons, the House of Lords and the King
How are members of the House of Commons chosen?
They are elected by the public
The country is divided into constituencies, each returning one MP
What types of members make up the House of Lords?
Hereditary peers, life peers, and bishops of the Church of England
What role does the King play in the legislative process?
The King must give assent before a law can become an Act of Parliament
This assent is considered a mere formality.
What is the legislative power of the UK Parliament?
It considers proposed legislation for the whole of the United Kingdom and specific legislation for England
Laws must be passed by both Houses and assented to by the King.
What powers have been devolved from the Westminster Parliament?
Scotland and Wales have their own elected Parliaments, and Northern Ireland has its own Assembly
These bodies make laws relevant to their respective regions.
Fill in the blank: Members of the House of Lords are either hereditary peers or those who are _______.
appointed for life
This appointment is often due to skills or contributions to society.
What are the two stages involved in the pre-legislative process?
A green paper and a white paper.
What is a Green Paper?
What is the purpose of a Green Paper?
To invite interested parties to send comments to the government department for consideration in the proposed law.
What follows the Green Paper consultation?
The government publishes a White Paper with its firm proposals for new law.
What is a White Paper?
A White Paper is issued by the government when it has firm views on a topic, sometimes without prior consultation.
Why is consultation before framing a new law considered valuable?
It allows time for mature consideration and helps avoid rushed laws that may be unworkable.
What is a Bill?
A Bill is a proposed law introduced into Parliament, drafted by Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury.
Who drafts a Bill?
Lawyers in the civil service known as Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury.
What must a Bill represent?
The proposer’s wishes while using correct legal wording to avoid future difficulties.
What must a Bill be in terms of language?
Unambiguous, precise, and comprehensive.
What happens to a Bill if it successfully completes all necessary stages in Parliament?
It becomes an Act of Parliament.
What does the government do when introducing a Bill into Parliament?
Sets out a timetable and prioritizes their Bills over all other business.
What are Public Bills?
Public Bills are the most frequent type of bill, usually involving matters of public policy that affect the whole country or a large section of it.
The Constitutional Reform Act 2005
The Equality Act 2010.
Can a Private Members’ Bill be a Public Bill?
Yes, a Private Members’ Bill can be a Public Bill if it affects the whole population.
The Abortion Act 1967.
What are Private Bills?
Private Bills are designed to pass a law that affects only individual people or corporations, not the whole country.
The University College London Act 1996.
What are Private Members’ Bills?
Private Members’ Bills are introduced and sponsored by individual MPs, with limited time for debate.
Only the first six or seven members in the ballot have a realistic chance of introducing a Bill.
What are some examples of important laws passed as Private Members’ Bills?
Important laws passed include the Abortion Act 1967 and the Marriage Act 1994.
