Project Britain
Your Guide to
British Life, Culture and Customs
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How are laws made in the UK?
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Woodlands Junior School is in the south-east corner of England |
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Laws are rules that everyone in the country must obey. In a democracy, like the UK, nobody is above the law. About one hundred new laws are passed each year. How does Parliament make new laws? A proposed new law is called a bill. Bills must be agreed by both Houses of Parliament and receive Royal Assent from the Queen before they can become Acts of Parliament which make our law. The Bill is introduced by a First Reading. This is simply an official notice that a Bill is going to be proposed and what it's about. It gives MPs time to prepare and discuss it. Shortly afterwards comes the Second Reading. At this point the principles are considered on the floor of the House. The Bill is then sent to be looked at by small groups of MPs who examine the Bill in detail. At the Third Reading the Bill is debated and there is a vote. If the Government has a majority, the Bill is then passed to the House of Lords. Once a Bill has passed through both Houses, it is sent to the Queen for the Royal Assent. Once it has Royal Assent the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament. It is the law of the land. Since 1952, The Queen has given Royal Assent to 3135 Acts of Parliament.
How Britain is Governed | Parliament House of Parliament | Elections | Government Prime Minister | House of Commons
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 Learn about England and the other countries in Britainfrom the children who live in ther |
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© Copyright 2011 Mandy Barrow
Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 4BB UK