Acts of Parliament and the Legislative Process

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the pre-legislative process, types of bills, the process in Parliament, and parliamentary sovereignty.

Green Paper

Consultative document issued by the Minister responsible, laying out the government's views and proposals for law reform.

White Paper

Document published by the government with firm proposals for new law, often including a draft bill.

Public Bills

Proposed laws that involve matters of public policy affecting the entire country or a large section of it.

Private Bills

Proposed laws that affect specific individuals or organizations rather than the general public.

Private Member Bills

Public bills introduced by individual MPs who are not government ministers.

Ballot Procedure

One way an MP can introduce a Private Members’ bill. A ballot is held each parliamentary session selecting 20 private members who can then present a Bill to Parliament

10-Minute Rule

One way an MP can introduce a Private Members’ bill. MPs can make a speech of up to 10 minutes supporting the introduction of new legislations.

Presentation

One way an MP can introduce a Private Members’ bill. MPs may introduce a presentation Bill after giving notice, but no debate can take place.

First Reading

The formal procedure where the name and main aims of the Bill are read out.

Second Reading

The main debate on the whole Bill where MPs debate the principles behind it.

Committee Stage

Stage where a Standing Committee considers each clause of the Bill in detail and has the power to amend it.

Report Stage

Stage where the committee reports back to the House on any amendments to the Bill.

Third Reading

The final vote on the Bill.

Royal Assent

The final stage where the monarch formally gives approval to the Bill, and it becomes an Act of Parliament.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Parliamentary law is sovereign over other forms of law in England and Wales

Section 4 of the HRA

Courts have power to issue a declaration of incompatibility i.e. an Act is incompatible with the ECHR