The UK Parliament and statutes
A bill can start in the house of Commons or in the house of Lords and must be
approved in the same form by both houses before becoming an act of Parliament.
The procedure to be followed for a bill to become an act of Parliament is first
reading. This stage is formal, the title of the bill is read and it is then published.
Second reading: this stage involves the main debate in the house of Commons on
the general principle of the bill. The second stage is where the debate takes place.
Committee stage: the purpose of this stage is to examine the Bill in detail.
Amendments can be made to it at this stage.
Report stage: if amendments are made to the bill in committee, a report stage is
needed and the house votes in any amendments. The speaker can select the
amendments to be subject to debate.
Third reading: this is the final stage involving consideration of the bill as amended.
This is the final opportunities for MPs to vote on the bill.
Proceeding in the house of Lords: this stage begins after the third reading in the
house of Commons. The procedure is similar to that in the commons. If the lords
have amendments to the bill, it must be sent back to the commons. In principle
the bill can go backwards and forwards between the lords and the commons until
the proceedings are ended by prorogation.
Royal assent: once royal assent is received, a bill becomes law and is referred to
an act of Parliament. The act may suspend its commencement date which can be
determined by delegated legislation.
**Although a bill must be passed by both houses, the lords play a secondary role.
There is a constitutional convention that the house of Lords will not reject a bill
giving effect to a major part of the democratically elected governments legislative
programme.
There are 2 types of bills that can be pasted before Parliament, Public bills and
private bills.
A bill can start in the house of Commons or in the house of Lords and must be
approved in the same form by both houses before becoming an act of Parliament.
The procedure to be followed for a bill to become an act of Parliament is first
reading. This stage is formal, the title of the bill is read and it is then published.
Second reading: this stage involves the main debate in the house of Commons on
the general principle of the bill. The second stage is where the debate takes place.
Committee stage: the purpose of this stage is to examine the Bill in detail.
Amendments can be made to it at this stage.
Report stage: if amendments are made to the bill in committee, a report stage is
needed and the house votes in any amendments. The speaker can select the
amendments to be subject to debate.
Third reading: this is the final stage involving consideration of the bill as amended.
This is the final opportunities for MPs to vote on the bill.
Proceeding in the house of Lords: this stage begins after the third reading in the
house of Commons. The procedure is similar to that in the commons. If the lords
have amendments to the bill, it must be sent back to the commons. In principle
the bill can go backwards and forwards between the lords and the commons until
the proceedings are ended by prorogation.
Royal assent: once royal assent is received, a bill becomes law and is referred to
an act of Parliament. The act may suspend its commencement date which can be
determined by delegated legislation.
**Although a bill must be passed by both houses, the lords play a secondary role.
There is a constitutional convention that the house of Lords will not reject a bill
giving effect to a major part of the democratically elected governments legislative
programme.
There are 2 types of bills that can be pasted before Parliament, Public bills and
private bills.
