Making a law and Judiciary

Every year Parliament passes about 100 laws directly by making Acts of Parliament. Parliament sometimes passes a very general law and leaves a minister to fill in the details. Using the powers given to them by Parliament, ministers become lawmakers themselves.

No new law can be made by Parliament unless it has completed number of stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Queen also has to sign a bill to show that it has been given the Royal Assent. Only after the Royal Assent it becomes a new law or Act of Parliament. Before this it is called Bill. Bills can begin in the House of Lords or the House of Commons.

There are two main sorts of Bills: Private Bill and Public Bill. Private Bills deal with local matters and individuals. Public Bills deal with matters of public importance. Important Bills are usually sponsored by the Government.

The first stage of lawmaking is called First Reading. It gives MPs notice that the Bill will soon be coming for discussion. Then the next stage comes– Second Reading. Here the main purpose of the Bill is explained by the Minister and the Bill is debated by the House.

The house then votes to decide if the Bill should continue its passage through Parliament.

The Bill continues to its Committee Stage where 18 Members from both Government and Opposition discuss it in detail, considering many possible changes (amendments). This is followed by Report Stage when the committee reports back to the rest of the House.

At the Third Reading stage, the House decided to pass the Bill as a whole. The Bill cannot be changed at this stage – it is either accepted or rejected. Once a Bill has passed its Third Reading in the Commons, one of the Clerks at the Table carries it to the House of Lords. The House of Lords has the job of reviewing Bills received from the Commons. It makes changes to Commons Bills. Once both Houses have passed a Bill, then it has to go to the Queen for the Royal Assent. After receiving the Royal Assent the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

As for judiciary there are two courts of trial and two courts of appeal for criminal proceedings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The courts of trial are the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court, and the courts of appeal are the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.

The Magistrates’ Court is the lower court of trial. It deals with summary offences. More serious criminal cases (indictable offences) then go to the Crown Court. Civil cases are dealt with in County courts. Magistrates’ Courts have limited powers of penalty but may commit a convicted offender to the Crown Court if it is considered that the powers of the Magistrates’ Court are insufficient. Approximately 95% of all prosecutions are dealt with in the Magistrates’ Courts.

Juvenile Courts are composed of specially trained magistrates. They try most charges against children and young persons under the age of 18 years.

The Crown Court is the senior court of trial for criminal offences. The courts are established at various centers throughout the country. The courts are presided over by a High Court Judge, Circuit Judge or Recorder who sits with a jury. The Crown Court may also hear appeals against conviction and\or sentence for some offences dealt with at the Magistrates’ Court.

The Court of Appeal hears appeals from criminal cases heard in the Crown Courts. The House of Lords is the most senior and final court of appeal.

Civil proceedings consist of litigation about property, family matters and actions to obtain financial redress for damage to property and personal injury. The courts of trial for such litigation are the County Court and the High Court if Justice.

County Courts are local courts and are presided over by a single Judge. The High Court of Justice is situated in London. Some cases before the High Court of Justice may be heard before a Jury.

I. Find words and expressions in the text which mean:

1. the approval by the British Sovereign of the Bill which has been passed by both Houses of Parliament.
2. a proposed law – the preliminary version of an Act of Parliament.
3. changes in a rule, document, law, etc.
4. law or custom which guides or controls behaviour or action.
5. the system of law courts in a country.
6. place where law - cases are held.
7. person against whom a legal action is brought.
8. punishment for wrongdoing.
9. court where children are tired.
10. crime, breaking a rule.