parliamentary law making Flashcards
(19 cards)
what is supremacy?
having the most amount of power over a group of people
what can parliament do because they are supreme?
-make, change or abolish any rule/law they want to
-overrule any law they want
-they cannot be bound by themselves
who makes up parliament?
house of commons, house of lords, and the King
who makes up the government?
members of the house of commons in the ruling party
who makes up the house of commons?
-650 elected MP’s
-usually represent a political party or individual candidate
who makes up the house of lords?
-this house is made up of 92 hereditary peers, 640 life peers, and 26 senior bishops
-the law lords have now been removed from this house and moved to the Supreme Court
what are the 4 types of bills?
-private members bills
-public bills
-private bills
-hybrid bills
what is a private members bill?
these are usually introduced by individual MP’s who are not in government
what are public bills?
laws on important public matter that affect the whole country - usually introduced by the government
what is a private bill?
there are laws that only apply to a private individual or legal entity
what is a hybrid bil?
a cross between private and public bills
what are the stages of the legislative process?
-green paper - sets out the general aims of the bill and invites responses
-white paper - the firm proposal for a law based on the consultation
-goes to the house of lords or commons, then there is a;
-first reading
-second reading
-committee stage
-report stage
-third reading
what happens in the first reading?
a formality where the title of the bill is read to the house
what happens in the second reading?
-the minister explains the purpose of the bill
-debate is had on the bill
-a vote is held on the bill
what happens in the committee stage?
-this stage is slightly different depending on if the bill begins in the house of commons or house of lords
-in the commons, between 16-50 MP’s examine each clause of the bill and think of any potential problems that could be caused
what happens in the report stage?
-the committee reports back to the house with any suggested amendments
-these amendments are then debated and either accepted or rejected
what happens in the third reading?
this is the final vote on the bill after each amendment has been accepted or rejected
what happens in the second house?
-after the steps are completed in one house, they are repeated in the other house
-if any amendments are suggested, this enters the ping pong stage
what does the king do?
then gives the royal assent to make the bill law
