Legislative process

Who sits in the House of Commons chamber?

MPs elected by the public

Approximately how many people sit in the House of Commons?

427

Who sits in the House of Lords chamber?

Appointed life peers

What is a private bill?

A bill dealing with issues affecting a small number of people

What is meant by a public bill?

A bill introduced by the Government Minister and applies to the whole country

What is a Government bill?

A bill introduced by the Government to carry out their manifesto promises

What is a Private Members bill?

A bill introduced by back bench MPs dealing with matters affecting the public

Why are Private Members bills less likely to succeed?

The time for debate is limited so only the first few members have chance of introducing their bill

What is a Green paper?

A consultation document which is a proposal for a new law

What is a white paper?

Policy documents produced by the government which sets out proposals for future legislation

Who drafts a bill?

Lawyers in the civil service (Parliamentary counsel to the treasury)

What happens at a First reading?

The name and main aims of the bill are read out, usually by the government minister of the department who created the bill

What happens at the second reading?

The main debate on the whole bill + principles behind it

Who can speak at the second reading?

MPs of all parties if they catch the speakers eye

What is the Committee stage?

An examination of every clause of the bill

How are the standing committee chosen?

Those with a special interest in or knowledge of the bill

A committee of the whole house

What is the report stage?

Amendments are reported back to the house and voted on

What is the third reading?

The final vote on the bill

How many members must request a debate at the third reading for one to happen?

6

What is meant by the parliamentary ping pong stage?

The bill passes back and forth between both houses until they agree on all the amendments

How do the Parliament Acts limit the power of the Lords?

They allow a bill to become law even if rejected, as long as the bill passes all stages again when reintroduced to the House of Commons

What is the Royal Assent?

The monarch sees a short title of the bill and approves it

Why can the law-making process be seen as democratic (3)

• MPs who represent are chosen by the general public

• Bills are openly debated and must be approved

• Bill must pass through both houses to be law

Why is the slowness of the process a problem? (3)

Laws take longer to pass - delays response to urgent issues

Allows urgent issues to go unaddressed

Weakens public trust

When was the last time the Monarch refused to assent to a new law

1707

4 Advantages of the legislative process

• Law is democratic

• There is consultation on proposed changes to the law

• New law is thoroughly discussed

• It cannot be questioned and must be applied in court

Counter-argument for law being democratic

House of Lords aren’t elected

MPs often obliged to vote in line with their party not their conscience

Development with evidence for new law being thoroughly discussed

Many amendments can be made especially in committee stage - every clause of the bill is examined by standing committee

How many MPs are in standing committee

16-50

Counter argument for process being thorough as an advantage

• Examination means long process which takes time for introduction

• Ping-pong stages can allow law to be intentionally delayed (e.g Assisted dying bill)

Development with evidence for there being consultation on the bill

Changes often occur after the green papers (shown to affected members of the public)

Allows views to be heard

Counter-argument for consultation on the bill being an advantage

Many amendments being made can make law vastly different (e.g 1200 to assisted dying bill)

Parliament don’t always have time or inclination to deal with all proposed reforms - especially in criminal/contract law

Development with evidence for law not being questioned

Law passed by parliament is highest form of law under principle of parliamentary sovereignty

Law will always be correctly followed (democratic)

Counter-argument for law not being questioned being an advantage

All clauses must be followed however MPs aren’t specialists for all clauses - some don’t receive detailed scrutiny

The will of the commons will prevail so amendments suggested by the lords are often unsuccessful (could make injustice)

What is the verbal vote in the second reading?

MPs make a call of Aye or no which must match their vote in the division however they can change original call when the speaker asks the question a second time

What is the formal vote in the second reading?

If members disagree with speakers verbal judgement they trigger a division - MPs walk through the Aye or No lobbies and have votes recorded by name and counted