Bills

Question 1

What is a Bill?

Answer 1

A Bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. Before it becomes an Act of Parliament, it is called a Bill.

Question 2

What are Public Bills?

Answer 2

Public Bills involve matters of public policy that affect the whole country, such as crime, tax, or equal opportunities.

Question 3

Who usually proposes Public Bills?

Answer 3

Public Bills are usually put forward by the government through Cabinet Ministers responsible for specific departments.

Question 4

Give examples of Public Bills that became Acts.

Answer 4

The Criminal Justice Act 2003, the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, and the Legal Services Act 2007.

Question 5

What are Private Bills?

Answer 5

Private Bills affect specific individuals, groups, or organisations rather than the whole public.

Question 6

Who puts forward Private Bills?

Answer 6

They are also put forward by the government.

Question 7

Give an example of a Private Bill.

Answer 7

The University College London Act 1996, which combined several institutions.

Question 8

What are Private Members’ Bills?

Answer 8

These are Bills proposed by individual MPs rather than the government.

Question 9

How many MPs can present Private Members’ Bills each parliamentary session?

Answer 9

Twenty MPs are chosen to present their Bill each session.

Question 10

How many Private Members’ Bills are realistically heard?

Answer 10

Usually only the first six or seven are actually heard.

Question 11

Give examples of important Private Members’ Bills that became law

Answer 11

The Abortion Act 1967 and the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003.