Once the bill has been passed its start the seven areas of progression it starts with the first reading, this means that the title of the bill is announced to the House of Commons there is no debate but a general vote will take place, determine whether or not the bill will go to a second reading. Second reading this is the most important first stage in the legislation, the purpose is explained to the house and a debate and vote will take place. Next is the committee stage, this is done by standing committee and is debated with detail, and will go to particular member with knowledge of the subject, this stage determines any amendments, also thoroughly studied checked in small groups. Then moving to Report stage in this particular stage the standing committee report their recommendation back to the full house. Then the house will have a debate for which it is then either accepted or rejected. If the house decided to accepted the bill it then moves into the final reading: Third reading this is the overall examination of the bill and allows MP’s to look at the bill as a whole really come to terms with the recommendations and conditions of it, therefore its is this stage that an overall decision is made to accept or reject the bill.
If the bill is finally accepted it then moves in to the House of Lords the house has the power to reject the bill for 12 months (Parliament Act 1947), however this could mean that it may become a law 12 months later automatically. The 1911 Parliament Act allowed them to reject for two years, obviously there powers are now less great, since 1947. In the House of Lords, the bill is scrutinised, in minute detail it is checked entirely, revise legislation and make important debates. Within the House of Lords they carry out their own; first reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading. Finally when passed by the House of Lords the bill is at its final destination, The Monarch it is then the Queens duty to sign the bill, all bills require the royal asset to become law, however the monarch also has other roles with in the legislative process. This includes the opening and the closing of parliament, and the appointment of the peers to the House of Lords.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of this process of law making.
(B) There are many advantages of the legislative process, these include; 100 law are passed a year, this means that every year Parliament can pass about 100 new laws. Also there is time given to ‘back benchers’ (a group of MP’s sat on the back bench of parliament, they present their local area, and have been elected) these are given, 10 minutes to have their say in parliament giving the parliament chance to hear from much more smaller places of the UK. This had been successful for example Bail Amendment Act 1993 was passed in this form. Another advantage is that there are powerful pressure groups which help the parliament to commence their roles with regards to the public opinions, there are different types of pressure which can be applied on government and parliament these are; Political pressure, The media and public opinion, Pressure groups, judges, the civil Service, European Union and the Law Reform Bodies, such as the Law commission. Another advantage is that parliament is very democratic, as we, the public choose by voting which party are in power. Also recently the number of ethnic minority has increased as there are now much more, women, and coloured MPs. Also parliament can pass emergency legislation for example, Terrorist Act, since September 11th. Another Advantage would be that, when House of Lords scrutinise the legislation, in the committee stage, on the Lords with professional knowledge of that area, for example ex-teachers, etc… In small number this creates a much more strengthened decision by, the House of Lords, and now some of the House of Lords are elected, which means the House of Lords is more democratic.
However some disadvantages of the legislation process include; since the parliament act in 1947, House of Lord can now only delay Laws for 1 year. This is a restriction by a year since the Parliament Act of 1911 allowed them to delay Law for 2 years. Also the number of MPs whom are selected from the ballot box, of ‘Back Benchers’ are only selected in small number this means that only a few recommendation from ‘back benchers’ are heard, also the success rate is somewhat not very high. Also there is a time limit on legislation processes, and if there was an emergency legislation, known as ’panic legislation’ this creates law uncompleted laws, and may contain loopholes, fro example Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, this law was rushed within the drafting of it. Also such time limit can also leave unfinished laws, as parliament closes for campaigning around election time etc…Panic legislation can be caused by pressure on the Government by the lobbying etc, which causes bills to be poorly drafted. Another disadvantage is that parliamentary elections only take place once every 5 years, this may have lead to deterioration with in the party, and another party could not step in with being elected. Also some MPs usually vote on party lines rather than how their constituents wish.
