Parliamentary Law making (Tort)

Question 1

What does Parliament consist of?

Answer 1

House of Commons, House of Lords and The Crown

Question 2

What is the House of Commons and what is their role?

Answer 2

MPs from different constituency’s (Largest political party forms a government); their role is to start bills and vote, if it is voted against, that is the end of the bill

Question 3

What is the House of Lords and what is their role?

Answer 3

A non elected body; their role is to check on House of Commons vote on bills - limited by Parliaments Act 1911/49

Question 4

What is the Crown and its role?

Answer 4

Currently King Charles - gives royal assent to law, typically a formality

Question 5

What are the two types of bill?

Answer 5

Public - introduced by government with matters of public policy
Private - introduced by individual MPs

Question 6

What is the definition of Parliamentary Supremacy + case?

Answer 6

Can legislate on any subject matter with no limits, no Parliament can be bound by any other Parliament and nothing is binding, no other body can override an Act of Parliament (Dicey)

Question 7

What are the limitations of Parliamentary Supremacy?

Answer 7

Acts of Parliament must be compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998, authority has been lost in Scotland and Wales

Question 8

What is a green paper?

Answer 8

An idea for a new law; a consultation document

Question 9

What is a white paper?

Answer 9

A firm proposal of a new law

Question 10

What are the stages the bill must pass?

Answer 10

First reading, Second reading, Committee stage, Report stage, Third reading, Royal Assent, repeated in House of Lords

Question 11

What are the types of influences on Parliament?

Answer 11

Political, media/public opinion, pressure groups and lobbists