legislative process

Question 1

first reading

Answer 1

bills name and aims are formally introduced
- no debate or vote at this stage

Question 2

second reading

Answer 2

main principles are debated and doesn’t focus on smaller details.
-vote held and can only proceed if majority agree

Question 3

committee stage

Answer 3

detailed examination of each clause of the bill by 15-60 elected mp’s
- discuss any amendments
- mp’s elected based on knowledge and interest

Question 4

report stage

Answer 4

amendments from committee stage are debated by house the bill started and either accepted / rejected
- if no amendments then stage is bypassed

Question 5

third reading

Answer 5

final vote on the bill
- no amendments allowed at this stage
- almost a finality as unlikely to fail

Question 6

opposite house

Answer 6

bill passes to opposite house and goes through same 5 stages
- considers amendments in HoC
- ‘ping pong’ effect as amendments are sent back and forth

Question 7

royal assent

Answer 7

monarch formally approves and bill becomes an Act of Parliament

Question 8

commencement

Answer 8

Act of Parliament comes into force at midnight of that day or a set date made by a minister