intro & pre leg procedure

• What is primary legislation also known as?

  An act of parliament / statute
• What is primary legislation?

  A law or set of laws proposed by the government and then made official by parliament
• What can laws be described as?

  Normative
• What does "normative" mean?


  They are based on agreed common standards
• Why do we need laws?

  - regulate society

  - protect people

  - enforce rights

  - solve conflicts
• What are the problems that affect laws?

  Society is constantly changing so new laws need to be put in place
• What are some examples of changed laws due to society changing?

  - Suicide act 1961 made suicide not a crime anymore

  - Health act 2006 banned smoking in enclosed public spaces

  - Air navigation (amendment) order 2017
• Who is parliament?

  The UK's supreme legislative body
• How many acts a year does parliament approximately pass?

  20-50
• What are the 3 bodies involved in parliament?

  - house of commons

  - house of lords

  - monarch
• how many MPs are in the house of commons?

  650
• how do MPs get into the house of commons?

  democratically elected (voted by the people)
• how often is the general election?

  every 5 years
• What is the government?

  The party with the majority of seats
• What is an MP?

  A representative elected by the people in a specific geographical area called a constituency to represent a party
• Can members of the houses of commons also be a member of the houses of lords?

  No
• MP note....

  An MP is someone who is in the houses of commons NOT in the houses of lords.

  Members of the houses of lords are NOT MPs
• How many members are there of the houses of lords?

  778-800
• What 3 types of members in the houses of lords?

  - life peers

  - hereditary peers

  - archbishops and bishops
• What is a life peer and how many are there?

  A member of the house of lords that is appointed for their lifetime based off of their expertise, contributions to society etc. They cannot pass their position down to family members meaning their position is not hereditary. There are 666
• What is a hereditary peer and how many are there?

  Someone who inherits their title and position in the house of lords from a family member. There are 88
• What is an archbishop and bishop and how many are there?

  High ranking members of the clergy (the body of ordained religious officials or ministers such as priests, bishops and other church leaders) in certain Christian denominations (diff religious groups within Christianity e.g. Catholics, protestants etc.) There are 24
• How are lords appointed?

  By the king on advice from the PM (Prime Minister)
• What may happen to the Houses of Lords in the future?

  Abolishment or reform
• What is the Monarch's role?

  - Broadly ceremonial role

  - Appoints a government

  - Opens and dissolves parliament

  - Delivers King's speech

  - Gives royal ascent (the approval to a bill that has been passed by parliament)
• What is the general process of making a law?

  - Idea (Pre-legislative process) --> Bill (legislative process) --> Act
• Describe the Pre-legislative process

  A green paper is issued, if that gets approved a white paper is drafted, debated and voted on by the government. When a proposal act is drafted it is published and becomes a bill.
• Who issues a green paper?

  Government minister
• What is a green paper?


  A document that lays out the broad proposals for a new law/reform.
• Can amendments be made to a green paper?

  Yes and interested parties are invited to give their opinions
• What is a white paper?

  A government document setting out a detailed proposal of the law wanting to be made