• The Big Intro
• Fuel for Thought
• Preparing a Law
• Making the Law
• The Figures
• Expert Opinion
• Glossary
• Latest Articles
• Useful Websites

Glossary

When talking about law-making and the Anti-social behaviour Bill you'll hear a lot of weird and wonderful words.

Some will be totally new, others you'll have heard a million times before. Here is a collection of the key terms that will be used over the course of the debate...

Act
a Bill that has been passed by Parliament, received Royal Assent, and become law.

amend
to make a change or improvement

anti-social behaviour
acting in a manner which causes harassment, alarm or distress to other people

ASBO
a command issued by a magistrate which aims to prevent an individual acting in an anti-social manner by places restrictions on their ability to be in certain places at certain times. Failure to comply can result in a fine or imprisonment

Bill
a proposed law that is being discussed in Parliament but has not been passed

committee
small work group made up of Members of Parliament, given specific responsibilities 

consultation
the process of getting information from people who are affected or involved in something

Department
a branch of the central government responsible for providing a service or function (eg. The Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Department of Health)

draft
to write something that will go through changes before it is finished

law
a set of public rules which must be obeyed by all members of a community 

legislation
a law or set of laws

legislature
an institution that has the power to make or change laws

local agencies
groups responsible for providing services in a community (eg. the police, housing authorities)

Peer
refers to Members of the House of Lords

Reading
the stage of a Bill's progress where it is debated in Parliament

scrutiny
careful and thorough examination of something or someone

Now Take It To The Forum...