Parliamentary debate and the legislative process

What is one of Parliaments key roles?

A key role of parliament is to pass legislation

The vast majority of laws passed are public bills, especially those backed by the govenment reflecting the dominance of the executive over the legislative process

What type of bills are most commonly passed by parliament?

Public bills,particularly government bills,make up the most legislation passed.

These apply to the whole country and cover major areas of public policy

Approximately how many public bills are passed each year?

-On average, Parliament passes around 30-40 public bills per year, demonstrating a steady legislative output

What are the basic principles all bills must follow to become law?

-Bills must pass through both the HOC/HOL

-Bills go through multiple stages each with varying levels of scrutiny

-All bills are debated and can be amended

-Most government backed bills become loaw while most backbench or peer bills do not

-All bills require Royal Assent which is now formality

Why do most government bills become law?

-The government usually has a majority is the HOC

-Party discipline enforced by whips

-The HOL can only delay not veto legislation

-This hilights the strength of the executive

What is a green paper?

is a discussion deocument produced by the government that outlines issues and possible policy options inviting consultation before formal legislation is drafted

What is a white paper?

A government document that sets out detailed plans and proposals for legislation, often following consultation on a green paper

What is pre-legislative scrutiny and why has it in reased?

-Invlolved publishing draft bills before formal introduction

-Scrutanise by select committees or joint committees

-Aims to improve legislation quality and reduce errors

-Reflects increased emphasis on scrutiny and accountability

What happens at the first reading?

-The bills title is formally read out

-Introduced by the relevent governement minister

-No debate or vote

-Purely procedural stage

What happens at the second reading?

-The main debate on the principle and aims of the bill

-Takes place in the HOC chamber

-A vote usually follows

-Government defeats at this stage are very rare

What is the purpose of the committee stage?

-Bill is examined line by line

-Conducted by a Public Bill committee

-MPs can propose ammendments

-Committees may take evidence from experts and interest groups

What happens at the report stage?

-The whole commons considers amendments made at committee stage

-Ammendments can be accepted,rejected or altered

-MPs can propose new amendments

-Allows further scrutiny beyond committee members

What happens at the Third reading?

-Final debate on the amended bill

-Focuses on whether the bill should pass as a whole

-No futher amendments permitted

-A final vote takes place

What happens once a bill has passed all commons stages?

-The bill goes to the HOL

-The same stages are repeated

-The lords may propose amendments

What is parliamentary ping pong?

-Occurs when the Lords and commons disagree on amendments

-The bill moves back and forth between two chambers

-Continues until nagreements is reached or powers are overriden

What happens if the Lords refuse to agree to a bill?

-The commons can invoke the parliament acts

-Allows the commons version to become law after one year

-Reinforces supremecy of the commons

What is the royal assent?

-Formal approval by the monarch

-Required for a bill to become law

-Today it is a constitutional formality and never refused

What is a secondary legislation?

-Law made by ministers,not oaqrliament

-Enabled by provisions in primary legislation

-Usually inbtroduced viaq statutory instruments

-Designed for efficiency and flexibility

How does parliamentary scrutiny of secondary legislation differ from primary legislation?

-Parliament cannot amend secondary legislation

-MPs may only apporove or reject it

-Scrutiny is significantly weaker than primary legislation

How can backbench MPs influence legislation besides voting?

-Proposing amendments

-Serving on bill committees

-Introducing PMBs

Provides some influecne despite executive dominance

What are Private members bills?

-Bills introduced by backbench MPs or peers

-Avaiable since 1940s

-Allow MPs to raise issues not prioritised by government

-Often focus on less contreversial/political issues

Why are PMBs important?

-Allow MPs to respond to public concerns

-Enable policy influence where parties are divided

-Can shape debate and influence government policy

-Enhance parliament’s representative role

What are Ballot Bills?

-Type of PMB

-Introduced by MPs who win a ballot at the start of a parliamentary session

-Only 20 MPs are selected

-MPs with higher ballot positions get priority time

Why are ballot Bills the most successful PMBs?

-Top- 5-7 MPs have the best chance of success

-More parliamentary time

-Often recive government support or neutrality

Limits of Ballot bills

-Debated on Fridays,when attendence is low

-Government can still block or ammend them

What isb a Ten-Minute rule Bill?

-A PMB introduced via a 10 minute speech by an MP

-Another MP may give a 10 minute opposing speech

-Followed by a vote on whether the bill proceeds

What is the main purpose of Ten minute rule Bills?

-To raise awarness

-Test parliamentary support

-Influence debate or government policy

They rarely become law

What is a presention Bill?

-The simplest and weakest type of PMB

-Mp present the bill’s title only

-No speech or debate

-Automatically recives fist reading

Why are presentation Bills extremely unlikely to become law?

-No debate or scrutiny

-Lack of parliamentary time

-No government backing

-Usually blocked at later stages