Statute Law
Statute Law is law created by Parliament. Traditionally kings and queens would issue royal statutes, often with the support of Parliament, which would be enacted as law, but since the medieval era the support of Parliament in the creation of statute law has been entrenched and a constitutionally essentiality. The principle of parliamentary supremacy in the legislative process has formally been part of the Harrovian Constitution since the reign of Queen Eleanor (1693-1720), and by convention since the mid 17th Century, although the sidelining of Parliament by the later Clarence monarchs, causing the Cold Rebellion, demanded that this convention be codified and asserted in the Plea of Right 1693.
Therefore to create statute law, bills must be consented to by each of the three "arms" of Parliament - the Queen, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. After receiving the Royal Assent (the assent of the final arm of Parliament - the Queen), the bill becomes an Act of Parliament. Following is the method of creating an Act of Parliament:
1. First reading: This stage is a mere formality.
2. Second reading: This stage involves a debate on the general principles of the bill is followed by a vote. Again, the second reading of a Government bill is usually approved. A defeat for a Government bill on this reading signifies a major loss. If the bill is read a second time, it is then considered in detail
3. Consideration in detail: This usually takes place on the floor of the House. Generally, committees are not used to consider the bill in detail.
4. Third reading: A debate on the final text of the bill, as amended. Very rarely do debates occur during this stage.
5. Passage: The bill is then sent to the other House (to the Lords, if it originated in the Commons; to the Commons, if it is a Lords bill), which may amend it. If the other House amends the bill, the bill and amendments are sent back to the original House for a further stage.
6. Consideration of Lords/Commons amendments: The House in which the bill originated considers the amendments made in the other House. It may agree to them, amend them, propose other amendments in lieu, or reject them. A bill may pass backwards and forwards several times at this stage, as each House amends or rejects changes proposed by the other. If each House insists on disagreeing with the other, the Bill is lost.
6.5. Disagreement between the Houses: Often, when a bill cannot be passed in the same form by both Houses, it is "laid aside", i.e. abandoned. There is also a special constitutional procedure allowing the passage of the bill without the separate agreement of both houses. If the Commons twice passes the same bill, and the Lords twice fails to pass that bill (either through rejection or through the passage of unacceptable amendments), then the Sovereign may, after dissolving Parliament and allowing a provisionary general election, convene a joint sitting of both Houses, where a final decision will be taken on the bill. The necessity of a general election before a joint sitting may take place is to ensure the House of Commons has the confidence of the public. Although the Commons and the Lords sit as a single body, bills passed at a joint sitting are treated as if they had been passed by each chamber separately. The procedure only applies if the bill originated in the House of Commons.
7. Royal Assent: Once a bill has passed both Houses in an identical form, it receives final, formal examination by the Sovereign who invariably gives it the Royal Assent. The Sovereign can choose to withhold, reserve or delay Royal Assent if the bill is deemed unacceptable by the Sovereign. The Sovereign may also send the bill back to Parliament with suggested amendments. Once the bill has been given the consent of the three arms of Parliament - i.e. the Commons, the Lords and the Sovereign, it is then an Act of Parliament and is law.
Therefore to create statute law, bills must be consented to by each of the three "arms" of Parliament - the Queen, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. After receiving the Royal Assent (the assent of the final arm of Parliament - the Queen), the bill becomes an Act of Parliament. Following is the method of creating an Act of Parliament:
1. First reading: This stage is a mere formality.
2. Second reading: This stage involves a debate on the general principles of the bill is followed by a vote. Again, the second reading of a Government bill is usually approved. A defeat for a Government bill on this reading signifies a major loss. If the bill is read a second time, it is then considered in detail
3. Consideration in detail: This usually takes place on the floor of the House. Generally, committees are not used to consider the bill in detail.
4. Third reading: A debate on the final text of the bill, as amended. Very rarely do debates occur during this stage.
5. Passage: The bill is then sent to the other House (to the Lords, if it originated in the Commons; to the Commons, if it is a Lords bill), which may amend it. If the other House amends the bill, the bill and amendments are sent back to the original House for a further stage.
6. Consideration of Lords/Commons amendments: The House in which the bill originated considers the amendments made in the other House. It may agree to them, amend them, propose other amendments in lieu, or reject them. A bill may pass backwards and forwards several times at this stage, as each House amends or rejects changes proposed by the other. If each House insists on disagreeing with the other, the Bill is lost.
6.5. Disagreement between the Houses: Often, when a bill cannot be passed in the same form by both Houses, it is "laid aside", i.e. abandoned. There is also a special constitutional procedure allowing the passage of the bill without the separate agreement of both houses. If the Commons twice passes the same bill, and the Lords twice fails to pass that bill (either through rejection or through the passage of unacceptable amendments), then the Sovereign may, after dissolving Parliament and allowing a provisionary general election, convene a joint sitting of both Houses, where a final decision will be taken on the bill. The necessity of a general election before a joint sitting may take place is to ensure the House of Commons has the confidence of the public. Although the Commons and the Lords sit as a single body, bills passed at a joint sitting are treated as if they had been passed by each chamber separately. The procedure only applies if the bill originated in the House of Commons.
7. Royal Assent: Once a bill has passed both Houses in an identical form, it receives final, formal examination by the Sovereign who invariably gives it the Royal Assent. The Sovereign can choose to withhold, reserve or delay Royal Assent if the bill is deemed unacceptable by the Sovereign. The Sovereign may also send the bill back to Parliament with suggested amendments. Once the bill has been given the consent of the three arms of Parliament - i.e. the Commons, the Lords and the Sovereign, it is then an Act of Parliament and is law.