Stages of a bill

• Stages of a bill 

  1.     First reading – reading the title of the bill, no discussion or vote
• Stages of a bill

  2.    Second reading – title read again, MPs get a chance to discuss/debate the main topics and bill needs majority vote to pass to next stage 
• Stages of a bill

  3.     Committee stage – between 16-50 MPs with expertise in the area examine the bill and suggest amendments 
• Stages of a bill

  4.     Report stage – the committee publish a report with all the amendments which are then debated in the Commons where there is a vote to accept/reject the proposal 
• Stages of a bill

  5.     Third reading – more of a formality for one last reading and vote
• Stages of a bill

  6.     House of Lords – goes through the same process as the Commons and can suggest their own amendments 
• Stages of a bill

  7.     Ping-Pong stage – goes back to the Commons to consider the Lords’ amendments and bounces between houses until any disagreements are settled 
• Stages of a bill

  8.     Royal assent – the monarch agrees to the bill and it immediately becomes a law