| What is a bill? | A proposal for a new law which is being discussed by the legislature |
| What are the four types of bills? | Private bills, public bills, Member’s bills and hybrid bills |
| What is a public bill? | Affects the whole country and is introduced by the government |
| What is a private bill? | Only affects a specific area or group of people |
| What is a Member’s bill? | Introduced by a specific group in the House of Commons |
| What is a hybrid bill? | Public bills which affect a particular person or organisation |
| What is a private members bill? | These are normally brought by an individual MP or peers (abortion act 1967) |
| How does a Private members bill become law? | Introduced by MP or peer after winning a place in the top 20 ballot or a ten minute bill were an MP speaks about the bill for 10 minutes then it is opposed, then few bills actually become law |
| What is the usual nature of PMB? | Socio-moral issues |
| What does the 10 minute outline bill do for the issue? | Creates publicity about it |
| Why is it introduced by MPs/peers and not ministers? | A way of giving backbenchers power |
| What is the problem with PMBs? | Time consuming with no help as civil service don’t help draft the bill + not a lot of opportunity for their introduction |
| Which PMB’s are the most successful? | Bills with cross party support |
| What is an example of a successful PMB? | The upskirting bill |
| How does most legislation begin? | In the party’s manifesto as the elected government has a mandate to implement their proposals |
| What types of papers may they introduce? | A green paper or a white paper |
| What is a green paper? | A problem with some solutions to debate |
| What is a white paper? | A policy that has already been written |
| How does a bill get turned into law? | First reading (intro of the bill), second reading (general debate of the bill), committee stage (bill is examined, debated and amendments considered), report stage ( the bill with amendments is reported back to the house), third reading (whole bill is considered for final approval with final opportunity for debate), the bill is returned to the chamber from which it originated |
