1. Power & Politics: Making Laws

2. Making Laws One of the most important things Parliament does is make laws. Before one can be made, someone has to have the idea: whatever could have led them to some of these?

3. Unusual Laws in France it’s illegal to call a pig Napoleon.

4. Unusual Laws in Ohio it’s illegal to get a fish drunk.

5. Unusual Laws In Kentucky it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon more than six feet long.

6. Unusual Laws in England all men aged over 14 must do two hours of longbow practice a day.

7. Unusual Laws in Vermont a married woman must get her husband’s written permission before she may wear false teeth. “Darling, I found them...”

8. Unusual Laws in York it’s legal to murder a Scotsman inside the city walls, but only if he’s carrying a bow & arrows (like this one).

9. Unusual Laws in London it’s illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague.

10. Unusual Laws in Florida unmarried women who parachute on Sundays can be jailed.

11. Unusual Laws in San Salvador drunk drivers may be put in front of a firing-squad.

12. Unusual Laws in Lancashire if a police officer on the seashore has asked you not to incite a dog to bark, & you do, you’re breaking the law.

13. Unusual Laws in Indonesia the penalty for masturbation is decapitation.

14. Making Laws so how does an idea become law in the UK? Let’s find out.

15. 1. Drafting the Bill at the beginning the new law is called a draft bill. It has to be drafted (written) very carefully in case any mistakes make it impossible to enforce later.

16. 2. First Reading at the First Reading the government tells everyone in Parliament that this is what they intend to do.

17. 3. Second Reading this time the bill is explained; Parliament is able to debate reasons for & against passing it, & a vote is taken on whether it should be dropped or carry on its way through the process.

18. 4. Committee Stage a group of MPs then examines the bill in detail & suggests changes (which both the House of Commons & the House of Lords must agree on).

19. 5. Report Stage the Committee prepares a report on the bill & explains any changes that have been made.

20. 6. Third Reading the bill is read for a 3 rd time in Parliament; changes may be made, & there is another vote to see if the House wants the bill to become law.

21. 7. The other House a bill passed by the House of Commons must be passed by the House of Lords as well, & vice versa; changes must be agreed by both Houses too.

22. 8. Royal Assent the Queen must also agree to the bill, & when she does, it becomes law. it may take place immediately, or be delayed to get people used to the new idea & make necessary preparations.

23. Current laws a few of you please suggest some laws we have now; they’ll go on the board, & we’ll see if you think them fair or unfair (& to whom).

24. Task now, in 3s or 4s, get together to create six laws of your own, three sensible & three more unusual… one group member needs to make sure everyone gets their say. consider why your law is needed (what problem is it trying to solve?) consider what problems / loopholes there could be with your law consider what punishment there should be for breaking your law

25. one group’s ideas: Sensible laws: compulsory National Service raise minimum wage more time at school to replace homework microchip babies at birth death for murderers/paedos to free up prison space study fashion at school Not-so sensible laws: compulsory kisses on Valentine’s Day legal to drive a car at age 14 dogs give permission to go kayaking every Tuesday & Thursday no parents’ evenings

26. another group’s ideas: Sensible laws: don’t microwave your hamster obese people to be fired no motor vehicles to be used on a Sunday no bestiality anyone can run for Prime Minister drug addicts to be executed Not-so sensible laws: don’t make explosives for your animals all ugly people to be shot everything in shops is to be free condoms to be worn on the head go to the toilet on Tuesdays only

27. The vote each group may now present one bill the rest of us will vote on whether or not to make it into law

28. We need… three sensible laws three silly laws in a PowerPoint (ideally) illustrated (take pictures from the Web) save to two computers (in case someone in your group’s away next week)