Parliamentary Law making

Question 1

Explain the house of Parliament

Answer 1

House of Commons
- 650 MP’s elected to serve a contingency

House of Lords
- 800 unelected members

Question 2

What are the types of Bills?

Answer 2

• Public Bill
• Private Bill
• Private Members Bill

Question 3

Explain Public Bill
(+ Example)

Answer 3

• Affects whole country
• Put forward by Government

The Equality Act

Question 4

Explain Private Bill
(+ Example)

Answer 4

• Affects individuals/organisations
• Those directly affected can petition against

Bishops Stortford Cemetery

Question 5

Explain Private Members Bill
(+ Example)

Answer 5

• Affects whole country
• Put forward by Individual MP
• Only become law if supported by government

The Abortion Act 1967

Question 6

What are the Pre Legislative Steps?

Answer 6

• Green Paper - Consultation document setting Gov proposal
• White Paper - Firmed proposal of Law
• Draft Bill - proposal in formal legal language

Question 7

What is the legislative process?

Answer 7

• First reading
• Second Reading
• Committee Stage
• Report Stage
• Third Reading
• Ping Pong
• Royal Assent
• Commencement

Question 8

Explain the stages of the legislative process

Answer 8

First Reading - Bill formally introduced to Parliament
Second Reading - MP’s debate key principles
Committee Stage - Bill examined by committee of MP’s
Report Stage - HoC consider committee amendments
Third Reading - MP’s debate bill contents
Ping pong - back and forth between Houses
Royal assent - monarch approval
Commencement - act comes into force

Question 9

Advantages of Parliamentary Law Making

Answer 9

• Democratic
• Individual MP’s can introduce Bills relevant to constituents
• Detailed process

Question 10

Disadvantages of Parliamentary Law Making

Answer 10

• Undemocratic
• Slow
• Complex legal language hard to understand for MP’s