Parliamentary legislation

Question 1

What is a public bill?

Answer 1

Affects either the whole country or a large section of it

Question 2

What is the most common form of bill?

Answer 2

A public bill

Question 3

• Affects either the whole country or a large section of it
• most common form of bill

Answer 3

A public bill

Question 4

Example of a public bill

Answer 4

Equality Act 2010

Question 5

Affects only individual people or corporations

Answer 5

Private bill

Question 6

Private bill

Answer 6

Affects only individual people or corporations

Question 7

Example of a private bill

Answer 7

University College London Act 1996

Question 8

Private members’ bills

Answer 8

Bills introduced by individual MPs

Question 9

Bills introduced by individual MPs

Answer 9

Private members’ bills

Question 10

Government Bills

Answer 10

Introduced by government ministers

Question 11

• introduced by government ministers
• take priority because they are backed by the government

Answer 11

Government Bills

Question 12

What type of bill takes priority?

Answer 12

Government Bills

Question 13

Why do government bills take priority?

Answer 13

They are backed by government

Question 14

What allows a bill to become law even if the HoL rejects it, providing that the bill passes all stages again in the HoC?

Answer 14

The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949

Question 15

The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 allow for what?

Answer 15

A bill to become law even if the HoL rejects it, providing that the bill passes all stages again in the HoC

Question 16

First stage of legislation

Answer 16

An idea for legislation

Question 17

Stage after an idea for legislation

Answer 17

Green paper

Question 18

Stage after green paper

Answer 18

White paper (bill)

Question 19

Stage after white paper

Answer 19

First Reading

Question 20

Stage after first reading

Answer 20

Second Reading

Question 21

Stage after second reading

Answer 21

Committee stage

Question 22

stage after committee stage

Answer 22

Report stage

Question 23

Stage after report stage

Answer 23

Third reading

Question 24

Stage after third reading

Answer 24

Passed to HoL

Question 25

Stage after passing to HoL

Answer 25

Royal Assent

Question 26

What happens to the green paper?

Answer 26

Sent to interested parties, who gather and refine ideas, and then send back the report

Question 27

What is the white paper?

Answer 27

A detailed draft of the proposed legislation that takes into account suggestions made in the Green Paper, if this is issued

Question 28

A detailed draft of the proposed legislation that takes into account suggestions made in the Green Paper, if this is issued

Answer 28

White paper

Question 29

Who drafts the white paper?

Answer 29

The Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury

Question 30

The white paper must be what?

Answer 30

- unambiguous - precise - comprehensive

Question 31

What is the first reading?

Answer 31

A formality in which the name and the main aims of the Bill are read out

Question 32

What is the second reading?

Answer 32

Formal debate that ends in a vote

Question 33

Formal debate that ends in a vote

Answer 33

Second reading

Question 34

Who controls debates?

Answer 34

The speaker

Question 35

How does the speaker control the debate?

Answer 35

Those who wish to speak must catch the speaker's eye

Question 36

What happens in the Committee stage?

Answer 36

- scrutiny of the bill, which is amended in line with the intended outcome - Any suggestions proposed are voted on by those present

Question 37

How many MPs are involved in the Committee Stage?

Answer 37

16-50

Question 38

MPs in the committee stage are chosen specifically due to...

Answer 38

their knowledge of the subject

Question 39

What happens in the Report stage?

Answer 39

Alterations made in the committee stage are reported back to HoC, where they read again, debate and vote

Question 40

Alterations made in the committee stage are reported back to HoC, where they read again, debate and vote

Answer 40

Report stage

Question 41

- scrutiny of the bill, which is amended in line with the intended outcome - Any suggestions proposed are voted on by those present

Answer 41

Committee stage

Question 42

Third Reading

Answer 42

Final vote on the bill

Question 42

The bill is unlikely to be rejected at what stage?

Answer 42

Third reading

Question 43

What happens when the bill is passed to the HoL?

Answer 43

The process repeats in the HoL

Question 44

Differences in the process in the HoL

Answer 44

- Committee stage can involve all members of the HoL - the government cannot restrict the subjects under discussion or impose a time limit

Question 45

What is royal assent?

Answer 45

The monarch approves the bill and it becomes an Act of Parliament