How Bills Go through Parliament

Vocabulary

Act of Parliament постановление парламента

be in charge (of) стоять во главе, руководить

be short of time испытывать недостаток времени

bill n законопроект; Money Bill финансовый законопроект

chamber n палата (парламента), зал заседаний

clarify v разъяснять, пояснять

Committee of the Whole House комитет всей палаты (заседание палаты общин

и палаты лордов на правах комитета для рассмотрения финансовых

законопроектов)

Committee Stage период/стадия рассмотрения в комитете

comply with v подчиняться, действовать согласно (правилам)

consent (to) v давать согласие, соглашаться

consider v рассматривать, обсуждать

contribute v делать вклад, способствовать

deliberation n совещание, обсуждение

election pledge n предвыборное обязательство

eventually adv в конце концов, в конечном итоге

explanatory note n пояснительная записка

government bill n законопроект, внесенный правительством

Human Rights права человека

in line with в согласии с, в соответствии с

institute v устанавливать, вводить

manifesto n манифест

Member of Parliament (MP) член парламента; член палаты общин

non-controversial adj не спорный, не дискуссионный

obsolete adj устарелый, вышедший из употребления

on behalf of от имени

outdated adj устарелый, устаревший

passage n 1 принятие; 2 прохождение через законодательный орган (о законе)

Public Bill публичный законопроект

reject v отвергать, отклонять

Report Stage 1 стадия доклада; 2 стадия обсуждения законопроекта, второе

чтение

Royal Assent королевская санкция (принятого парламентом закона)

spot v заметить, увидеть

Standing Committee постоянный комитет

Statute Law статутное право, «писаный закон»

to and fro туда и сюда, с одного места на другое

update v 1 модернизировать; 2 приводить в соответствие с требованиями

современности

vote v голосовать

vote n голосование

walk of life 1 общественное положение; 2 занятие, профессия

workload n рабочая нагрузка

 

Reading tasks

A Answer these questions.

1 How is the UK Constitution being developed through making new laws?

2 What circumstances initiate new legislation?

3 What are the ways of making a new law?

4 What is the essence of law-making in Parliament?

5 What are the reasons for Bills to be sent to committees?

6 Under which circumstances can an amendment be withdrawn?

7 Where is a new legislation initiated?

8 In what way does the Committee stage in the House of Lords differ from that in the House of Commons?

9 Why are Lord’s powers over Money Bills restricted?

10 What is the role of the Royal Assent in making a law?

B Decide which of the statements (a, b or c) corresponds exactly to the meaning of the text and best completes each statement.

1 Parliament sometimes passes a very general law and

a) leaves it as it is

b) leaves the relevant minister to fill in the details

c) leaves it for the House of Lords to fill in the details.

 

2 No new law can be made by Parliament unless it

a) has been approved by Prime Minister

b) has passed through Parliament and received the Royal Assent

c) is popular with the public.

 

3 Most stages through which a Government Bill has to pass are known as “readings” because

a) during the discussion of a Bill MPs like to read newspapers

b) only the reading of a Bill but not its discussion is allowed in the Parliament

c) the contents of each bill is read out in each Chamber.

 

4 If the Bill has been considered by a Committee of the Whole House

a) the Report Stage is not necessary

b) the further consideration is necessary

c) the Report Stage is delayed.

 

5 During the third reading the House of Commons decides

a) whether the Bill should be changed substantially

b) whether the Bill should be accepted or rejected

c) whether the Bill should go to the Royal Assent.

 

6 Lords cannot reject a Public Bill because

a) the Act of 1949 provides it

b) the Queen forbids it

c) the Human Rights Act of 1998 provides it.

7 The members of both Houses know that the Royal Assent to a Bill has been given

a) from the Queen herself

b) from a document the Queen sends by mail

c) from certain Lords who inform them.

 

C Rearrange paragraphs in the text and put them in the correct order.

 

Making New Law

 

(…) Finally, the Bill goes to the reigning monarch for the Royal Assent. All Bills must pass through both Houses before being sent for signature by the Queen, when they become Acts of Parliament and the Law of the Land.

 

(…) Nowadays the Royal Assent is merely a formality. In theory, the Queen can still refuse to sign the Bill, but she always signs them.

 

(…) The Bill then goes to one of the Houses for the report stage, when it can be amended. If passed after its third reading, it goes to the other House. Amendments made to a Bill by the House of Lords must be considered by the Commons. In case the House of Commons does not agree, the Bill is altered and sent back to the
Lords for reconsideration. If disagreement between the two Houses persists, the
Commons prevails. The House of Lords has no power to deal with money Bills, but
it can table them.

 

 

(…) New legislation in Britain usually starts in the House of Commons which plays the major role in law-making. However the House of Lords also has the power to initiate legislation. In each House a Bill is considered in three stages, called readings. The first reading is purely formal, to introduce the bill. The second reading is usually the occasion for debate. After the second reading the bill is examined in detail by a committee.

Language focus

A Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple passive form.

Translate into Russian the terms in bold type.

Types of Bills

A Bill is a proposal for a new law. Most Bills 1) _____ (introduce) 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 2) _____ (intend) to affect the public as a whole and change the general law. The majority of Public Bills that become Acts of Parliament 3) _____ (introduce) by a government Minister and 4) _____ (know) as Government Bills. Private Members’ Bills 5) _____ (sponsor) by individual MPs. Government business 6) _____ usually _____ (give) priority and Private Members’ Bills can get squeezed out.

Private Bills 7) _____ only _____ (intend) to affect one particular area or organization. They 8) _____ (promote) by organizations 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 9) _____ now _____ (consider) each session.

Hybrid Bills are Public Bills which may affect the specific private rights of people or bodies. They 10) _____ generally _____ (introduce) by the Government, but are fairly rare.

B Complete these sentences with the appropriate preposition from the box. Some prepositions can be used more than once.

	out of on over by for between in

 

1 Government Bills enable the Government to carry _____ important aspects of party policy and to meet the demands _____ a changing society.

2 Government Bills are unlikely to be rejected completely because the Government is normally able to rely _____ the support of its majority in the House of Commons, so most Government Bills succeed _____ becoming Acts of Parliament.

3 The Bills concerning policy are often a subject _____ fierce arguments _____ the Government and Opposition.

4 A debate is a formal discussion _____ a topic in the House of Commons or the House of Lords.

5 MPs take turns to speak _____ the subject concerned.

6 The debate is strictly controlled _____ a set of rules and is presided _____ by the Speaker in the House of Commons.

7 In the House of Lords, members are responsible _____ controlling the debate themselves.

8 Any Bill has to be properly written _____, or drafted.

 

Vocabulary task

Match the following English expressions with their Russian equivalents.

 

	have constitutional significance	a	вносить законопроект на рассмотрение
	accept / reject a bill	b	пройти несколько стадий
	update the law	c	соответствовать международному праву
	suggest changes or amendments	d	«комитет всей палаты»; палата, действующая как комитет
	receive the Royal Assent	e	голосование по первому чтению
	introduce a bill	f	принять / отклонить законопроект
	comply with International Law	g	предлагать изменения или поправки
	pass through several stages	h	привести закон в соответствие с требованием современности
	Committee of the Whole House	i	получить Королевскую санкцию
	vote on the First Reading	j	иметь конституционное значение

 

 

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