Parliamentary Law Making P2

Question 1

What are the three types of law?

Answer 1

• Private bill
• Public bill
• Hybrid bill

Question 2

Bill

Answer 2

• Name of draft law before going through parliament

Question 3

Act of Parliament

Answer 3

• A law that’s already been passed through the parliament, official law.

Question 4

What’s a private bill?

Answer 4

Laws which only apply to particular individuals or organisations.

Question 5

What’s a public bill?

Answer 5

Laws which apply to the whole country, suggested by gov.

Question 6

What can public bills start as?

Answer 6

Gov bills- introduced by gov and carries out their manifesto promises.
Private members bills- introduced by back bench MPs, but less likely to succeed unless support of gov. EG: Abortion Act 1967

Question 7

What’s a hybrid bill?

Answer 7

Laws that impact public but also specific effects on certain people//groups.

Question 8

What are the 5 Pre-Parliamentary stages? - PRE LEGISLATIVE

Answer 8

Idea stage
Consultation stage
Green paper
White paper
Drafting stage

Question 9

Idea stage

Answer 9

Idea for new law, normally devised by gov.

Question 10

Consultation stage

Answer 10

The idea is discussed with experts

Question 11

Green Paper

Answer 11

Discussion document that sets out the idea for the new law but may include several alternatives.
EG: ‘Transforming Public Health” green paper proposed reform to UK’s public health.

Question 12

White Paper

Answer 12

Finalised version of the idea which is the government’s ‘statement of intent’
EG: Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS” (2010) was a White Paper setting out government plans to reform the NHS by giving more power to GPs and patients, leading to the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Question 13

Drafting Stage

Answer 13

Idea written into legal terminology by the parliamentary counsel - it is now a bill.

Question 14

What are the 7 parliamentary stages? - LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Answer 14

First reading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report stage
Third reading
House of Lords (usually)
Royal assent

Question 15

First Reading

Answer 15

Name and aims of bill read out by sponsoring MP, no discussion or voting, second reading date set.

Question 16

Second Reading

Answer 16

• Whole House debates the bill and votes either ‘aye’ or ‘no’, (verbal vote) the Speaker announces who has won the vote.
• Or if uncertain, use formal voting of splitting each in favour or not into different rooms.

Question 17

Committee Stage

Answer 17

• Small group (16-50) of MPs//lords reviewing bill.
• Chosen by special interest or those with knowledge on topic.

Question 18

Report Stage

Answer 18

Amendments reported back to house ,debated and voted on.

Question 19

Third Reading

Answer 19

Final reading of the bill and then the bill is said to have ‘passed through the house’

Question 20

Other Houses

Answer 20

• If bill began in commons, passes to bills and vice versa.
• 5 stages repeated in the new house, will have to be passed back and forth until agreeable.

Question 21

Royal Assent

Answer 21

Bill becomes an Act of Parliament once the King signs it.
Only a short title seen.

Question 22

Parliament acts 1911 and 1949

Answer 22

The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 are laws that limit the powers of the House of Lords and allow the House of Commons to pass laws without the Lords’ consent in certain cases.

Question 23

Example of a law passed without the consent of the HoL

Answer 23

Hunting act 2004
The Hunting Act 2004 is a law that bans the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, with limited exceptions.

Question 24

Advantages of the Legislation Process

Answer 24

• Long process allows time for the bill to be effectively scrutinised and checked for errors.
• First reading allow the opposition to prepare an argument against the bill for the second reading.
• House of Lords contain many legal experts and so is used as a ‘safety net’ for checking the bill for errors.

Question 25

Disadvantages of the Legislative Process

Answer 25

- Slow and lengthy, delaying necessary laws. - House of Commons can override the Lords, limiting scrutiny. PARLIAMENT ACT 1911 - Public consultations may not reflect diverse opinions. - Political agendas can marginalise important issues.