The Process of a Bill Becoming an Act of Parliament
The process of a bill to become an act of parliament
When a bill is introduced it either starts of in the house of lords or in the house of commons, if it starts of in the house of commons it will go through 6 stages, the first stage is the 1st reading where it is introduced and no discussions will take place, The first reading of a Bill can take place at any time in a parliamentary session.
After the first reading the second reading takes place, in this reading MP’s get the first opportunity to debate the main principles of the bill. This takes place no sooner than 2 weeks after the first reading.
At the second reading The Government minister, spokesperson or MP responsible for the Bill opens the second reading debate. The official Opposition spokesperson responds with their views on the Bill. The debate continues with other Opposition parties and backbench MPs giving their opinions. At the end of the debate, the Commons decides whether the Bill should be given its second reading by voting, meaning it can proceed to the next stage. It is possible for a Bill to have a second reading with no debate - as long as MPs agree to its progress.
Once this stage is complete then it will go to a stage called committee stage where all the clauses and any amendments made in earlier stages may be debated, once it goes through this process then it will go to the next stage in the process.
The next stage is the report stage, during this stage the HC are given the last chance to debate or amend the bill before it moves on to the next stage and onto the House of Lords.
If a bill passes the report stage then it will go onto the third reading, the final stage of the process in the house of commons, this is mainly a formality and the decision will be made whether to let it move to the next stage, this stage takes place straight after the report stage and is a very short reading.
Once a bill has passed the third reading in the House of Commons it will go through the same
When a bill is introduced it either starts of in the house of lords or in the house of commons, if it starts of in the house of commons it will go through 6 stages, the first stage is the 1st reading where it is introduced and no discussions will take place, The first reading of a Bill can take place at any time in a parliamentary session.
After the first reading the second reading takes place, in this reading MP’s get the first opportunity to debate the main principles of the bill. This takes place no sooner than 2 weeks after the first reading.
At the second reading The Government minister, spokesperson or MP responsible for the Bill opens the second reading debate. The official Opposition spokesperson responds with their views on the Bill. The debate continues with other Opposition parties and backbench MPs giving their opinions. At the end of the debate, the Commons decides whether the Bill should be given its second reading by voting, meaning it can proceed to the next stage. It is possible for a Bill to have a second reading with no debate - as long as MPs agree to its progress.
Once this stage is complete then it will go to a stage called committee stage where all the clauses and any amendments made in earlier stages may be debated, once it goes through this process then it will go to the next stage in the process.
The next stage is the report stage, during this stage the HC are given the last chance to debate or amend the bill before it moves on to the next stage and onto the House of Lords.
If a bill passes the report stage then it will go onto the third reading, the final stage of the process in the house of commons, this is mainly a formality and the decision will be made whether to let it move to the next stage, this stage takes place straight after the report stage and is a very short reading.
Once a bill has passed the third reading in the House of Commons it will go through the same