law making

• rule of law


  people are subject to and accountable to law which is fairly applied and enforced
• sovereignty


  supreme power of authority
• supremacy


  the quality of state of being supreme. especially : a position of unquestioned authority, dominance, or influence
• separation of powers


  the vesting of legislative, executive, and judiciary powers of government in separate bodies
• bill


  a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.
• statute


  a written law passed by a legislative body
• parliament


  the highest legislature, consisting of sovereign, the house of lords and the house of commons
• royal assent


  royal assent is the final step required for a parliamentary bill to become law
• public bill


  a public bill is a proposed law which could apply to everyone in its jurisdiction
• private members bill


  private members' bills are public bills introduced by MPs and lords who are not government ministers. as with other public bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general public
• the ballot


  the names of members applying for a bill are drawn in a ballot held. normally, the first seven ballot bills are most likely to get a day's debate
• ten minute rule


  members make speeches of no more than ten minutes outlining their position
• private bill


  a law affecting only a single person, group, or area, such as a bill granting a named person citizenship
• hybrid bill


  a cross between a public and private bills. they are introduced by a government minister and only effect particular individuals, organisations or areas
• green paper


  often when a government department is considering introducing a new law, it will put together a discussion document called a green paper
• white paper


  white papers are policy documents produced by the government that set out their proposals for future legislation
• sectional pressure groups


  a sectional group is a pressure group which promotes the interests of a particular section of society
• cause pressure groups


  these organisations campaign for a specific cause or objective
• example of a private members bill


  - abortion bill 1967

  - marriage act 1994
• Example of a ten minute rule bill?


  bail amendment act 1993
• example of a public bill?


  - legal services act 2007

  - dangerous dog act 1991

  -misuse of drugs act 1971

  -police and criminal evidence act 1984 (PACE)

  -violent crime reduction act 2006
• example of a hybrid bill


  -high speed rail act 2021
• example of a sectional pressure group


  the confederation of British industry
• example of casual pressure groups


  -campaign for freedom of information

  -the campaign for nuclear disarmament
• how many members are in the house of commons

  650 members
• how often are general elections

  every 5 years
• what do the house of lords do? (3)

  - examine and challenge the work of the government.

  - scrutinise, debate and pass law

  - the MP's will vote on a proposed bill, there must be a majority YES for it to pass
• types of people who sit on the house of lords

  -life peers, given title for service

  - hereditary peer

  -bishops
• what do the house of lords do? (3)

  - complement the work of the commons

  - add further scrutiny and debate along with amendments to proposed bills

  - they also must vote on a bill
• the steps of the formal legislative process

  first reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage, third reading, house of lords, royal assent
• the first reading


  a formal procedure where the name of a bill is read out no discussion or vote takes place
• the second reading


  main debate takes place and a vote is taken in which majority must be in favor
• committee stage


  a detailed examination of each clause of the bill is undertaken and each clause is voted on
• report stage


  committee reports back to the house any amendments they have made. the amendments are debated on by the house and accepted or rejected
• third reading


  the final vote on the bill takes place. if more then 6 MPs request the bill will be debated further
• house of lords (FLP)

  goes through the same 5 stages if amendments are made the bill is passed back to the commons and if they don't agree with the amendment they will send it back
• when does a bill become an act?

  after royal assent a bill comes onto force at midnight that day. however the act often has a commencement date.
• rules of parliamentary supremecy

  - parliament can legislate on any matter

  - cannot bind successors

  - can not be overruled by others
• cannot bind successors


  this means that each and every new parliament should be free to make changes to the law as they wish