Parliamentary Law Making Flashcards
(23 cards)
The main functions of the UK Parliament
Check and challenge the work of the Government (scrutiny)
Propose to make and change laws (legislation)
Debate the important issues of the day (debating)
Check and approve Government spending (budget/taxes)
Bill
A proposal for a new law or a proposal for changing an existing law
Types of Bills
Government Bills
Public Bill
Private Bill
Private Members’ Bill
Government Bills
Introduced by Government.
They are likely to become law as government business takes priority in Parliament. Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill 2021
Public Bill
Affects everyone in the country. Usually introduced by the government.
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
Private Bill
Affect only individual people or companies.
(University of London Act 2018)
Private Members’ Bill
Bills introduced by individual MP’s. Either done by Ballot or the 10 minute rule.
Abortion Act 1967
Marriage Act 1994
Most recently, Wera Hobhouse MP was able to
make upskirting a criminal offence in the
Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019.
Parliamentary Law Making
Laws in the UK are made by the elected representatives of the people in the form of Parliament.
Parliament consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Crown acting together.
House of Commons
There are 650 MPs, each elected to represent a constituency.
Elections must take place every five years.
The party with the majority in the House of Commons forms the government.
House of Lords
This is a non-elected body and consists of 640 life peers (appointed), 92 hereditary
peers (elected) and 26 Bishops of the Church of England
Green Paper
This is a consultation document putting forward the government’s ideas for reform of the law and inviting the views of affected parties so that changes can be made if needed.
Consultation document which has ideas on paper , put forward for a new law or proposal.
White Paper
The government sets out its firm proposals for the new law
Draft Bill
puts the proposals into formal legal language. It may be issued as part of the White Paper, or later on.
Most Bills are introduced in the House of Commons first, but some can begin in the Lords.
Finance Bills must begin in the Commons.
Green Paper
White Paper
Draft Bill
Consultation Stage
First Reading
A formal procedure where the name and main aims of the Bill are read out.
No discussion or vote.
Second Reading
The main debate on the Bill and MP’s vote on it.
• Majority needed for the Bill to pass
• Debate focuses on main principles of the Bill
• Must not speak without being called upon by the speaker
• Verbal vote taken at the end “Aye” or “No”
• If vote is unclear, walk in through 2 doors. Tellers count votes.
Committee Stage
Detailed examination of each clause.
● Done by a standing committee— chosen specifically for that Bill.
● Undertaken by a committee of 16-50 MP’s.
● Proportionate representation of parliament.
● MP’s nominated usually have special interest or knowledge in the subject of the Bill.
● The whole House sits in committee for Finance Bills
Report Stage
The Committee reports back to the House if there have been amendments at the Committee stage.
The amendments are debated on and accepted or rejected. Further amendments may be added
Third Reading
The final vote on the Bill.
There is only a further debate if at least 6
MP’s request it
Other House
Process repeated in the other house
Ping Pong Stage
If the other house make amendments, the Bill must go back and forth— continues until both Houses can agree.
If both Houses do not agree, the House of Commons can force the Bill through using the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949. This happened with the (Hunting Act 2004)
Royal Assent
Monarch gives approval for the Bill to become an Act of Parliament.
Commencement
An Act of Parliament comes into force on midnight of the day it is given Royal Assent - unless another date has been set.
