Law-making process of British Private Members’ Bills

The article deals with the law making process of Private Members’ Bills, which are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Lords who aren’t government ministers. A minority of Private Members’ Bills become law but, by creating publicity around an issue, they may affect legislation indirectly. Private Members’ Bills can be introduced in either House and must go through the same set of stages. There are three ways of introducing Private Members’ Bills in the House of Commons: the Ballot, the Ten Minute Rule and the Presentation. Ballot Bills have the best chance of becoming law, as they get priority for the limited amount of debating time available. The names of Members applying for a Bill are drawn in a ballot held at the beginning of the parliamentary year. Ten Minute Rule Bills are often an opportunity for Members to voice an opinion on a subject or aspect of existing legislation, rather than a serious attempt to get a Bill passed. Members make speeches of no more than ten minutes outlining their position, which another Member may oppose in a similar short statement. It is a good opportunity to raise the profile of an issue and to see whether it has support among other Members. Additionally any Member may introduce a Bill by presentation. Private Members’ Bills introduced in the Lords go through the same stages as any other Public Bill. Once completed, and if an MP supports the Bill, it continues in the Commons. The discussed procedure in its current form does not ensure the effectiveness of this way of making law. Nevertheless it provides an excellent opportunity for backbenchers to gain experience and present issues that attract public attention in the forum of Parliament.

Niniejszy artykuł zawiera szeroką analizę problemu kryteriów zgłaszania kandydatów w wyborach w systemie ochrony praw Rady Europy ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wyroku Europejskiego Trybunału Praw Człowieka w sprawie Tahirov przeciwko Azerbejdżanowi. Podstawowe badania obejmą przede wszystkim orzecznictwo organów międzynarodowych chroniących prawa jednostki, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem Europejskiego Trybunału i Komisji Praw Człowieka Rady Europy, oraz raporty misji obserwujących wybory OBWE.