1.1

• two main sources of the law

  government

  judiciary
• 3 parts of parliament

  house of commons

  house of lords

  monarchy
• House of Commons


  elected reps or members of parliament voted by people in an election

  650 MPs

  selected at general election to represent a constituency
• House of Lords 


  800 people

  92 hereditary peers (lords)

  26 CofE bishops and archbishops

  some lifetime appointed peers who do not pass on their title after death

  main job is to 'double check' new laws
• monarch


  king or queen gives royal assent to new laws

  new law comes into force immediately unless specifies later date
• government


  run the country

  prime minister is the leader of the majority party

  most proposals for laws come from the government

  initial proposals called a bill
• parliamentary stages of a bill- first reading

  government first introduces the bill into the commons (or occasionally the lords) where it receives a first reading. this is just a formal announcement of the bill and it is followed by a vote to allow it to move to its next stage
• What is considered during the second reading of a Bill?

  Main principles of the Bill
• Why does the government usually win the vote at the second reading?

  They have the support of a majority of MPs
• What happens after the second reading if the Bill passes?

  It moves on to the committee stage
• What occurs during the committee stage of a Bill?

  The Bill is examined line by line by a committee
• Who makes up the committee that examines the Bill?

  MPs from different parties
• What does the committee do after examining the Bill?

  Reports back to the whole House
• What is the purpose of the report stage?

  To consider the committee's report
• How long can debates on major Bills last during the report stage?

  They may be spread over several days
• What follows the report stage in the legislative process?

  The third reading of the Bill
• What is the significance of the third reading?

  Final chance to debate the Bill's contents
• What happens during the third reading?

  No amendments are allowed
• What are the possible outcomes of the third reading vote?

  Pass the Bill or reject it
• Where does the Bill go after the third reading?

  To the House of Lords
• What happens if the House of Lords amends the Bill?

  It returns to the Commons for approval
• Who has the final say on the Bill?

  The House of Commons
• What is Royal Assent?

  The monarch's agreement to make a Bill law
• What happens after Royal Assent is granted?

  The law comes into force immediately
• What is a Green Paper?

  A consultation document for public discussion
• What is a White Paper?

  A document setting out plans for legislation
• What are Public Bills?

  Bills that change laws for the general population
• What are Private Members' Bills?

  Public Bills by non-government MPs and Lords
• What are Private Bills?

  Bills that change laws for specific individuals or organizations
• What is theft defined as?

  Dishonest appropriation of another's property
• What constitutes burglary?

  Entering premises as a trespasser with intent to commit theft
• What is the definition of a riot?

  Unlawful violence by 12 or more persons
• What is criminal damage?

  Damaging property belonging to another without lawful excuse
• What is robbery defined as?

  Stealing with force or fear of force
• What is judicial precedent?

  Past decisions of judges creating future law
• What is the principle behind judicial precedent?

  Standing by previous decisions
• What is the exception of distinguishing in judicial precedent?

  Precedents are binding only if facts are similar
• What does overruling mean in judicial precedent?

  A higher court overturns a previous decision
• What is the hierarchy of the British Court system?

  Supreme Court, Crown Court, Magistrates Court
• What precedent was set by Donoghue v Stevenson 1932?

  Created a precedent for Daniels v White 1938