#17286 - Statute Law - GDL English Legal System

Statute law

• Statute law introduction Statutes are made by Parliament, which consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarch.

• House of commons

  • The House of Commons is the democratically elected chamber of Parliament.

• House of lords

  • Following the House of Lords Act 1999, membership of the House of Lords is currently undergoing a major reform to remove the role of the hereditary peers.

  • The Government is considering removing the remaining 92 hereditary peers.

  • An independent Appointments Commission selects some non-party members for the upper House and vets party appointments.

• Making an act of parliament

  • All statutes begin as a Bill.

  • There are three types of Bill:

    • Public Bills

      • Public Bills deal with matters affecting the public generally and are usually introduced by a Government minister

      • Public Bills apply throughout England and Wales.

      • Most Bills are public and are introduced and supported by the Government.

    • Private Members’ Bills

      • A Private Members' Bill deals with matters affecting the public generally but is introduced by a Member of Parliament who is not a minister.

      • Private Members' Bills are a type of Public Bill and should not be confused with Private Bills.

    • Private Bills.

      • A Private Bill deals with issues which affect only a very small number of people.

      • For example, a Private Bill could deal with a matter affecting a single local authority. Private Bills are promoted by the group concerned.

  • The legislative process usually starts in the House of Commons and proceeds as follows.

    • First reading

    • Second reading

    • Committee stage – bill referred to a committee of the commons.

    • Report...