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A Bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law, presented for debate before Parliament. A Bill can start in the Commons or the Lords and must be approved in the same form by both Houses before becoming an Act (law).
- First Reading (Commons)
First reading is the first stage of a Bill's passage through...
- Lords
First reading is the first stage of a bill's passage through...
- Royal Assent
Once a bill has completed all the parliamentary stages in...
- Report Stage
Report stage gives all members of the Lords a further...
- Second Reading
The official Opposition spokesperson responds with their...
- Committee Stage
Committee stage involves detailed line by line examination...
- First Reading (Commons)
- The Decision to Legislate
- Preparation of The Bill
- Towards Introduction
- Parliamentary Stages
- Royal Assent and Beyond
For each session of Parliament the government will have a legislative programme, which is a plan of the bills that it will ask Parliament to consider in that session (the period between elections is divided up into sessions, and each of those sessions usually lasts about a year). Other bills may be passed each session that are not part of the legis...
If a bill is given a slot in the legislative programme, the department concerned will create a bill team to co-ordinate its preparation and passage through Parliament. This will consist of a bill manager and other officials working on the bill. The other key players in the department will be the officials with lead responsibility for the policies i...
Although a bill may have a slot in the legislative programme, it cannot be introduced until it has been specifically cleared for introduction by a meeting of PBL Committee. The committee will consider the final (or near-final) draft of the bill together with a range of other documents. Some of these, like the Explanatory Notes, will be published al...
Most bills can begin either in the House of Commons or in the House of Lords. The government will make this decision based on the need to make sure each House has a balanced programme of legislation to consider each session. However, certain bills must start in the Commons, such as a bill whose main aim is the imposition of taxation (the annual Fin...
A bill that has been passed by both Houses becomes law once it has been given Royal Assent and this has been signified to Parliament. It will then become an act. Even then the act may not have any practical effect until later on. Most provisions in an act will either come into operation within a set period after Royal Assent (commonly two months la...
Sep 13, 2022 · A public bill must undergo five steps in each House of Parliament – first reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading – before the two Houses resolve any differences between them and the bill receives royal assent to become an act, and law.
Oct 27, 2023 · If one House approves a bill, and it passes to the next House for approval but amendments are made, it will need to pass back to the original House - with the amendments made - to be...
First reading is the first stage of a Bill's passage through the House of Commons - usually a formality, it takes place without debate. First reading of a Bill can take place at any time in a parliamentary session. What happens at first reading?
Report stage allows MPs to make decisions about amendments to the bill as a whole house, and review any changes made in committee stage. This stage involves debate, and often a series of votes to settle diferent opinions. Amendments and new clauses are decided upon at this stage.
People also ask
What happens if a bill passes through both Houses of Parliament?
How does a public bill become a law?
How does a bill go through the UK Parliament?
How does a bill become a law in the UK?
How does a government bill work?
How does a bill go through the House of Commons?
At the end of the debate, the House of Commons (made up of elected MPs) will vote on whether to approve the Bill. If they do, the Bill will then go to the House of Lords to be scrutinised and debated.
