Legislative process, advantages, disadvantages

• What is the legislative process?

  The legislative process is where a bill, a proposal for a new law or to change an existing law, is introduced and debated in Parliament.
• What is the first stage of the legislative process?

  The first stage is the first reading, which is a formality for introducing the bill.
• What happens during the second reading of a bill?

  During the second reading, a debate on the bill takes place followed by a vote.
• What occurs in the committee stage of the legislative process?

  In the committee stage, the bill is scrutinized line by line to ensure it meets its legal standards.
• What must happen if changes are needed to the bill during the committee stage?

  If changes are needed, they must be brought to the Houses in the reporting stage.
• What is the final stage of the legislative process?

  The final stage is the third reading, where the bill has its final vote.
• What happens to the bill after the final stage in one House?

  All of these stages are repeated in the other House.
• What is a "ping pong" situation in the legislative process?

  A "ping pong" situation occurs when the bill is passed back and forth between the Houses.
• What acts can the House of Lords use to influence legislation?

  The House of Lords can use the Acts of Parliament of 1911 to 1949 to influence legislation.
• What is required for a bill to become an act of Parliament?

  It must be approved by the Monarch.
• How long has it been since royal assent has been withheld?

  No royal assent has been withheld for over 300 years.
• A advantage is that it’s democratic as the laws are made by our elected representatives. If a general election isn’t performed as expected a gov can be voted out of the office.
• Another advantage is that its full reform meaning acts of parliament can reform whole areas of law in one act this makes law easier to find
• lastly act of parliament can set broad policies and give powers to other to make detailed rules known as delegated legislation, this is an ad general structure is laid down by parliament but it allows greater detail in law
• A disadvantage is that gov is in control of the parliamentary timetable and allows very little time for private member bills that often deal with important moral issues even when a private member manages to introduce a bill it can be easily voted out by gov as they have majority of House of Commons the result is few private members bills become law and few moral issues are legislated upon
• last disadvantage it’s a long process even where the job introduces a bill into parliament the process of becoming an act with all the different stages it takes several months, the original bill may be altered multiple times during parliamentary legislate process which means the final act is not as clear or comprehensive
• Influence on parliamentary law making

  pressure groups, represent the interests of a group of people, in 2007 laws against smoking in public places were made as of public/medical opinion, often bring scientific discoveries to govs attention. occasions of two pressure groups having conflicting interests.
• Public opinion the views of members of general public this is a strong influence on parliam as 18+ able to vote. PO was mixed whether to leave the EU in 2016 majority voted to leave this allowed parliament to legislate in 2017 to allow this. When majority of public has certain beliefs

  or demands, then parliament can safely pass legislation on the issue. gauging PO can be difficult no one can definitely say that majority public believe one way