the legislative process

• King's speech - sets out the government's main legislative program it wants Parliament to approve
• 1. First reading

  Clerk reads out the title of the bill, no vote, an announcement of intent
• 2. Second reading

  A debate in Parliament over the principle of the bill - MPs vote on whether or not to proceed to the next stage
• 3. Committee stage

  PBCs examine the bill line by line
• 4. Report stage

  Opportunity for the whole of Common to discuss and consider further amendments to the bill
• 5. Third reading

  Chamber looks at the revised bill. Final debate
• 6. Lords

  Goes to the Lords where the same process is repeated and the bill is given back to the commons - ping pong

  • Has delayed legislation - 1991 War Powers Act which would have allowed UK to prosecute war criminals even when the offence occured outside the UK
• Royal Assent

  Final stage, signfiying the formal passage of the bill into law. urely ceremonial but reports the Royal Family see the billb before Parliament and make suggestions