SOURCES OF LAW AND PARLIAMENTARY

🟥 FLASHCARD QUESTIONS – SOURCES OF LAW & PARLIAMENTARY LAW MAKING

🔹 Section 1: Long Answer

1. Explain what a statute is and identify who creates it.

2. What is common law and how is it developed?

3. Define delegated legislation and give two examples of who might make it.

4. Describe what is meant by European Union law and its current status in the UK.

5. What is international law and what organisation helps to establish it?

6. What is custom as a source of law, and why is it no longer practical in the UK?

7. Explain what legal texts are and how they contribute to the legal system.

8. Describe the three parts that make up Parliament.

9. Distinguish between Parliament and Government.

10. Explain the roles of the Monarch, House of Commons, and House of Lords in the law-making process.

11. Describe the purpose of the Green Paper in the parliamentary process.

12. What is the function of the White Paper in law reform?

13. Outline the key stages a Bill goes through in the House of Commons.

14. What happens during the Committee Stage and Report Stage?

15. What is the purpose of Royal Assent?

16. Describe the differences between public, private, and hybrid bills.

17. What are Private Members’ Bills and how can they be introduced?

18. Explain why the House of Lords is described as a checking mechanism.

19. Discuss why the legislative process is considered thorough.

20. Evaluate why the process of law making is sometimes described as slow.

🔹 Section 2: Fill in the Gaps

21. A statute is a written form of law created by __________.

22. Common law is made by the __________ through __________ precedent.

23. Delegated legislation is law made by __________ other than Parliament but who have been given __________.

24. Members of the EU agreed to be subject to all laws made within its __________.

25. The UN Charter aims to establish __________ and maintain friendly __________ between nations.

26. The House of Commons is made up of __________ members who are __________ elected.

27. The House of Lords can delay bills under the Parliament Acts of __________ and __________.

28. The Monarch gives __________ Assent, which is mainly a __________.

29. The Green Paper contains __________ policy options and invites __________.

30. The White Paper sets out the government’s __________ proposals for reform.

🔹 Section 3: True or False

31. The House of Commons is more powerful because it is democratically elected.

32. The House of Lords can permanently block any Bill it disagrees with.

33. The Monarch can refuse to give Royal Assent if they disagree with a Bill.

34. The Green Paper is the government’s final version of the proposed law.

35. The White Paper still allows changes to be made to the Bill later.

36. Delegated legislation is law made by judges in court.

37. Public Bills affect the whole population.

38. Private Bills affect specific people or organisations.

39. Hybrid Bills are a combination of public and private bills.

40. The legislative process allows mistakes and unclear wording to be corrected.

🔹 Section 4: Multiple Choice

41. Which of the following is not a source of law?
    a) Custom
    b) Statute
    c) Government policies
    d) Common law

42. Which of the following bodies can make delegated legislation?
    a) Local authorities
    b) The Queen
    c) The Supreme Court
    d) Private companies without authority

43. What is the first stage of the Parliamentary Law Making process?
    a) White Paper
    b) Committee Stage
    c) Green Paper
    d) First Reading

44. How many readings does a Bill have in each House?
    a) One
    b) Two
    c) Three
    d) Four

45. What happens during the Second Reading?
    a) No debate takes place.
    b) The main principles are debated and voted on.
    c) Amendments are reviewed.
    d) The Monarch gives assent.

46. Who decides the final sentence after a Bill becomes law?
    a) The Prime Minister
    b) The Judge
    c) The Monarch
    d) Parliament

47. What type of Bill was the High Speed Rail (Crewe–West Midlands) Act 2021?
    a) Public Bill
    b) Private Bill
    c) Hybrid Bill
    d) Private Members’ Bill

48. What is one main advantage of the Parliamentary Law Making process?
    a) It is extremely fast.
    b) It is democratic and allows debate.
    c) It excludes public participation.
    d) It avoids scrutiny.

49. Which of the following is a disadvantage of the law-making process?
    a) It’s very thorough.
    b) It’s democratic.
    c) It’s slow and time-consuming.
    d) It allows amendments.

50. Around what percentage of Supreme Court cases involve unclear statutory wording?
    a) 25%
    b) 50%
    c) 75%
    d) 10%

🟩 ANSWERS

1. Statute = written law made by Parliament.

2. Common law = judge-made law via judicial precedent.

3. Delegated legislation = law made by bodies (e.g. local councils) given authority by Parliament.

4. EU law = binding for member states; no longer applies to the UK post-Brexit.

5. International law = created by international bodies like the UN; promotes peace and cooperation.

6. Custom = historic practice recognised as law; obsolete in modern UK law.

7. Legal texts = authoritative writings on law used for interpretation and guidance.

8. Parliament = Monarch, House of Commons, House of Lords.

9. Government = ruling party with majority in Commons, led by PM and Cabinet.

10. Commons debate and pass Bills; Lords review and delay; Monarch gives assent.

11. Green Paper = consultation document for proposed law reform.

12. White Paper = firm policy proposal for new law.

13. Stages: First Reading → Second Reading → Committee → Report → Third Reading.

14. Committee examines clauses; Report reviews and debates amendments.

15. Royal Assent = final formal approval by the Monarch.

16. Public = everyone; Private = specific group; Hybrid = both.

17. Private Members’ Bills = introduced by MPs or Lords, via ballot or ten-minute rule.

18. HoL checks government power and ensures quality debate.

19. It’s thorough because of multiple readings and amendments.

20. It’s slow because of multiple stages and reviews by both Houses.

21. Parliament.

22. Courts; judicial.

23. Bodies; law-making powers.

24. Remit.

25. World peace; relationships.

26. 650; democratically.

27. 1911; 1949.

28. Royal; formality.

29. Alternative; feedback.

30. Final.

31. True.

32. False.

33. False.

34. False.

35. True.

36. False.

37. True.

38. True.

39. True.

40. True.

41. c) Government policies.

42. a) Local authorities.

43. c) Green Paper.

44. c) Three.

45. b) The main principles are debated and voted on.

46. b) The Judge (after law enacted).

47. c) Hybrid Bill.

48. b) It is democratic and allows debate.

49. c) It’s slow and time-consuming.

50. c) 75%.