ABSTRACT
Original sovereignty lies with Parliament and Acts of Parliament have paramount importance within the English Legal System. This chapter explores the nature of primary legislation and of how such legislation is passed. Equally, manifestos can contain precise and specific promises to enact specific types of legislation. A Government will sometimes put out ideas for legislation to public consultation. The legislative programme is not designed by the Queen personally but is drawn up by a Cabinet Committee called the Legislation Committee. The law-making process, as it applies to primary legislation, is complex and highly politically charged. Private Bills are typically supported/proposed by public authorities in order to extend or augment their existing public law powers. Public inquiries can be an excellent conduit for law reform and act as an increasingly important influence on law-making. The Law Commission is an independent body established by the Law Commissions Act 1965 ‘for the purpose of promoting the reform of the law’.
