Legislative Process

• Bill


  A proposed law before it is passed by Parliament
• Act


  A law that has been passed by Parliament
• The legislative process


  1. Draft bills issued for consultation

  2. Bill introduced (first reading)

  3. Second reading (full debate)

  4. Committee stage (detailed consideration)

  5. Report stage (committee reports findings)

  6. Third reading (full debate, no amendments)

  7. Passed by Commons

  8. Passed by Lords

  9. Royal Assent (bill becomes law)
• Almost all draft bills are created by the government
• Draft bills are examined by select committees in the Commons or Lords or by a joint committee of both Houses
• White Paper


  Government paper with ideas for a specific policy
• Green Paper


  Government paper with more general ideas for a future policy
• The bill can be defeated at the second reading stage
• Amendments can be made at the committee stage if the bill only impacts England, the committee may be made up of English-based MPs
• Amendments made by the Lords can be adapted or rejected by the Commons
• The Lords can then argue against the Commons' reaction
• Types of bills


  • Public bills (proposed by government)
  • Private Members' Bills (introduced by MPs or Lords not in government)
• Private Members' Bills are less likely to proceed through all the legislative stages