Why Bring Laws In?

It's common knowledge that there is no written constitution in Great Britain, and the laws of the country are not listed within a single document. That is why law-making has special significance, as each new Act of Parliament represents a new page in the country's constitution. The law undergoes constant reform in the courts as established principles are interpreted, clarified or reapplied to meet new circumstances. Occasionally, obsolete laws become outdated, and pressure arises on the Government to update the law. The Government may also wish to introduce new laws in line with its policies. During the late 1990s, for example, a series of Acts was passed to comply with the Labour Government's programme for constitutional reform.

Sometimes new laws are needed to ensure that the UK complies with International or European Law. The Human Rights Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are recent examples of this.

In the UK laws made by Parliament are known as Statute Laws. Every year Parliament passes about 100 laws directly by making Acts of Parliament. Within the same period, more than 3000 Statutory Instruments containing many rules and regulations are made indirectly, on Parliament's authority. Parliament sometimes passes a very general law and leaves the relevant minister to fill in the details. The minister is often in the best position to do this, particularly where circumstances are changing fairly frequently. By having the freedom to make some rules, the minister is able to adapt to changing circumstances. Using the powers given to them by Parliament, ministers, in effect, become lawmakers themselves.

The essence of law-making in Parliament is that decisions are taken on behalf of the people. Elected representatives sit in the House of Commons, while the House of Lords contains a variety of experts from all walks of life who provide the benefit of their experience.

No new law can be made by Parliament unless it has completed a number of stages in both Houses of Parliament and received the Royal Assent. Only after the Royal Assent does it become a new law or Act of Parliament. Before this, while it is still journeying through Parliament, it is called a Bill.

Task 2. Give answers to the following questions checking your
understanding of the text.

1. Why does law-making have special significance in Great Britain?

2. What circumstances make new legislation necessary?

3. What is the name for laws made by Parliament?

4. How are Acts of Parliament made?

5. What is the difference between a law and a Bill?

Task 3. Find in the text above English equivalents for the following key words and expressions.

1. принимать законы

2. парламентский закон

3. суть законотворческого процесса

4. соответствовать политике правительства

5. соответствовать международному праву

6. пройти несколько стадий

7. законопроект

8. получить Королевскую Санкцию

9. принимать решения от имени народа

10. законодатели

11. привести закон в соответствие с требованиями современности

Task 4. Read the following text and specify different types of Bills.

Types of Bills

A Bill is a proposal for a new law. Most Bills are introduced into Parliament by the Government; some will be implementing policies that were promised in its election manifesto and others will be responding to economic and social issues as they develop.

There are two main kinds of Bill - Public Bills and Private Bills.

Public Bills are intended to affect the public as a whole and change the general law. They are Government Bills and Private Members' Bills. The majority of Public Bills that become Acts of Parliament are introduced by a government Minister and are known as Government Bills. When a new government comes to power after a general election, it will normally have a number of policies it wishes to put into effect. Where necessary it will try to change the law by introducing Bills into Parliament. Each Bill will be piloted through Parliament by a Minister from the appropriate Government Department. Government Bills usually succeed in getting through Parliament because the Government has a majority in the House of Commons. Private Members' Bills are sponsored by individual MPs. Many Private Members' Bills fail to complete their passage through Parliament, either through lack of support or, more likely, because of shortage of time. Government business is usually given priority and Private Members' Bills can get squeezed out. To be successful a Private Members' Bill ideally needs to be non-controversial and have the support of the Government.

Private Bills are only intended to affect one particular area or organization. They are promoted by organisations outside the House (e.g. local authorities or companies) to obtain powers for themselves in excess of or in conflict with the general law. They should not be confused with Private Members' Bills, which are a type of Public Bill. In practice, only a few Private Bills are now considered each session.

Hybrid Bills are Public Bills which may affect the specific private rights of people or bodies. They are generally introduced by the Government, but are fairly rare.

Task 5. See if you can give answers to the following questions.

1. What is a Bill?

2. What body are most Bills introduced into Parliament by?

3. What are the purposes of introducing Bills?

4. What are the main two kinds of Bills?

5. What are public Bills aimed at?

6. Who are private Bills promoted by?

7. What is the characteristic feature of a Hybrid Bill?

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