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Unit 1, Government policies and law process- public services; Assignment 4
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- PEARSON (PEARSON)
Unit 1, Government policies and law process- public services; Assignment 4. Highest grade awarded.
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Describe how government policies/ laws are developed:Development process:
An Idea can emerge from the Government, MPs and Peers, a think tank, the media, pressure
groups, a piece of research or something that has happened recently.
The Government sets out its plans in a Green Paper. (This is a document about a proposed change
in the law that is distributed to interested parties to gather their views on the change and open a
period of consultation and debate. This debate might take the form of public meetings, specialist
consultation meeting or open enquiries from outside government. Sometimes the discussions
around a green paper make it clear that the policy or law would not be welcome or is not needed
and the policy stops there. However, sometimes the discussions show that there is a need for the
law, and it moves ahead to the next stage. The next stage is a white paper.)
There should then be a Consultation period (minimum 3 months). This is a chance to talk to
people who might be affected by the plans, an opportunity for Non- Governmental Organisations
(NGOs) to express their views, and a chance to tell Government what they think of its ideas.
Changes may be made as a result.
The Government will then produce a White Paper. (This is much more formal than a green paper
and contains a set of formal proposals on the new law or policy. White papers are the drafts of
what will become known as bills in later stages of development.)
First reading- This is the notification to the house that a proposal is made. The title of the bill is
read out and copies of it are made available. There is little or no debate at this stage. Second
reading This is a crucial stage for the bill as it is the main debate on the proposals contained within
it. The house must then decide whether to send it forward for the next stage. In practice a
government with a clear majority will almost always get its bill through this stage.
Committee stage- this can be a complex part of the procedure. In short this is where the bill is
examined in detail and the committee considers the changes it would recommend to the house.
Most bills are dealt with in standing committees of about twenty M.P’s and this is the usual
practice, however if a bill is introduced late in the parliamentary session is may be sent to a select
committee which can hear evidence from outside individuals or agencies. The members of the
committees are chosen for their qualifications and personal or professional interests. If a bill is
controversial or very important this stage is examined in a committee of the whole house. For
private bills only the committee stage might be judicial, this is where anyone whose business or
property may be affected can lodge a petition to amend a bill in order to protect their interests.
Report stage- The committee reports back to the house with suggested amendments, which are
then debated and voted on by the house at large.
, Third reading- The bill is represented to the House of commons and a final vote is taken on
whether to accept the proposed legislation, if the bill is accepted it is said to have ‘passed the
house’ and is then sent on to the next stage.
House of Lords -The bill goes through a similar procedure in the House of Lords as it has already
taken in the House of Commons and it must pass all these stages in one session of parliament. The
House of Lords cannot reject most legislation passed from the House of Commons although they
do retain some powers such as the ability to reject a bill which attempt to extend the duration of a
government for longer than five years. The House of Lords has less power than the Commons
because they are not elected by the public. Passage through other house – the Bill will follow the
same stages as it did in the first House. If any changes are made to the Bill in the second House,
the Bill must go back to the House where it started so that there can be a vote on the changes.
This stage is sometimes referred to as “Ping pong.”
In my opinion, the “ping pong” this is a very effective method to making sure that legalisations are
fully agreed upon, once a change has been made it starts again, it reassures people in society that
the government are positive that they have the right amendments to specific laws and policies.
Royal Assent- When a bill has successfully passed through both houses it must go to the monarch
for approval and consent. It will then become law on a specified date. It is not usual for the
monarch to give consent in person, it is normally done by a committee of three peers including
the Lord Chancellor.
Once the Bill has completed all the stages in Parliament it will receive Royal Assent from the
Queen. The Bill then becomes a law and will be known as an Act of Parliament. Sometimes there is
a delay between Royal Assent and the Act coming into force.
A new law or policy is rarely implemented immediately. It is important to have a period where the
public services can become familiar with the new law, undertake relevant training if necessary and
be ready for when the bill becomes law. For this reason, laws are rarely implemented on being
signed, but have an implementation date. For example, the Human Rights Act 1998 didn’t come
into force until 2000. Also, before new laws come into force the government issues guidance and
directives to the public services that are affected, identifying the changes and the areas the public
service will be responsible or accountable for. It is also important that the general public have an
opportunity to become familiar with a new law. If a new law was implemented immediately the
public would have difficulty conforming to it. One way in which changes to policy and the law are
promoted and introduced to the public is using the media. In my opinion the government rely too
much of the services and hoe effectively they work, they would do much better if they worked
cohesively; when it comes to implementing the new laws into services it puts unnecessary
amounts of stress on the workers, meaning they can't work effectively, moreover, if they are
found accountable for breaching the new law, (in which they are still trying to adhere to) it could
be threatening to their career.
All potential laws and legislation begin life as a ‘bill’. A bill is a proposal for a piece of legislation.
There are three kinds of bills:
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