Parliamentary Law Making | AQA A-Level Law (7162)
Parliamentary Law Making
- 36 questions
- 3 subtopics
- The nature of law and the English legal system, 25 marks on every paper
- Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3
The route from Green Paper to Royal Assent, and the influences — public opinion, party, government and the Law Commission — that shape what Parliament passes..
It covers green Papers, White Papers and Royal Assent, parliamentary Supremacy and Its Limits and influences on Parliament.
Sample questions from Parliamentary Law Making
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Green Papers, White Papers and Royal Assent
What happens at the First Reading of a Public Bill?
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The First Reading is a formal introduction where the Bill's title is read out and no debate takes place. -
Green Papers, White Papers and Royal Assent
What is Royal Assent and what is its effect?
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Royal Assent is the formal approval given by the monarch to a Bill that has passed through both Houses of Parliament, at which point it becomes an Act of Parliament. -
Parliamentary Supremacy and Its Limits
Can courts question the validity of an Act of Parliament or declare it unconstitutional?
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No. Under parliamentary supremacy, no court can question the validity of an Act of Parliament or declare it unconstitutional. -
Parliamentary Supremacy and Its Limits
What practical constraints limit what Parliament will realistically legislate?
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Political and practical constraints, including public opinion, limit what Parliament will realistically legislate despite its theoretical supremacy. -
Influences on Parliament
How do pressure groups seek to influence parliamentary law making?
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Pressure groups are organised groups that seek to influence government policy and legislation without seeking election themselves, operating through lobbying, campaigns, and public awareness. -
Influences on Parliament
State three disadvantages of pressure group influence on parliamentary law making.
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The risk of undue influence by wealthy or well-organised groups; potential for undemocratic outcomes; and the possibility that narrow interests override the public good.
The 3 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Green Papers, White Papers and Royal Assent | Recall questions on Green and White Papers, each stage of a Bill from First Reading to Royal Assent, and the advantages and disadvantages of the formal legislative process. | 14 |
| Parliamentary Supremacy and Its Limits | Recall questions on the doctrine of parliamentary supremacy, why Parliament cannot bind its successors or be overruled by the courts, and how EU membership, devolution, practical constraints and the Human Rights Act limit it. | 8 |
| Influences on Parliament | Recall questions on how public opinion, party and government policy, the Law Commission, pressure groups and the media influence law making, and the advantages and disadvantages of pressure group and media influence. | 14 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA A-Level Law Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,352 questions with their answers.