law making process

• What are the stages in chronological order of the pre-legislative procedure?

  Idea > Green paper > White paper
• What is a green paper?

  Consultation documents produced by the Government. The aim of this document is to allow people both inside and outside Parliament to give the department feedback on its policy or legislative proposals
• What is a white paper?

  Document of firm proposals, it is drafted, debated and voted on. Once published it is called a bill
• What are the stages in chronological order of the legislative procedure?

  First reading > Second reading > Committee stage > Report stage > Third reading > Second house > Royal assent
• What happens at the first reading?

  The name and main aims of the bill are read out in front of parliament
• What happens at the second reading?

  Where the main debate happens. People from all political parties can voice concerns, suggest changes, or show support for the bill
• What happens at the committee stage?

  A detailed clause-by-clause examination of the bill happens, and involves a committee of around 16-50 MPs / Lords
• How is committee stage different for finance bills?

  The whole house will sit in committee
• What happens in the report stage?

  Amendments are debated and accepted or rejected
• Why is the report stage important?

  Prevents small committees from amending the bill against the wishes of the house
• What happens at the third reading?

  The final vote on the bill happens
• What happens in the second house?

  Bill is passed to the other house where it goes through the same 5 previous stages & both houses should reach an agreement
• What happens with royal assent?

  The monarch approves the bill and it becomes an act of parliament
• What is the mnemonic to remember this process?

  Giant whales find secret crabs rapping to strange rocks
• What did the Parliament act 1911 do?

  Prevented the house of lords from blocking a finance bill
• What did the Parliament act 1949 do?

  Allowed the houses of commons to be able to seek royal assent without the approval of the houses of lords after 1 year
• What 2 acts were approved without the house of lords approval?

  - War crimes act 1991

  - Hunting act 2004 --> ban on hunting with dogs
• When was the last time a bill was blocked?

  Queen Anne was the last monarch to withhold Royal Assent, when she blocked a Scottish Militia Bill in 1707