Legislative Process Description

Question 1

Green paper

Answer 1

Law reform consultation paper
Created by government
Reform areas of the law
Allows MPs and non MPs a say on the law reform

Question 2

White paper

Answer 2

Document created by government

Sets out proposed law reform

Question 3

First reading

Answer 3

Name of bill is read out

No discussion or vote

Question 4

Second reading

Answer 4

MPs debate overall principles behind bill
Verbal vote
Don’t go into minor details
Clear results= move to next stage
No clear result= formal vote

Question 5

Committee stage

Answer 5

15-50 MPs form a committee
MPs will have specialist knowledge in topic
Go through bill cause by cause
Discuss causes and amendments

Question 6

Report stage

Answer 6

Causes and amendments are reported to house

No report stage if there’s no reports

Question 7

Third reading

Answer 7

Final vote on bill
Unlikely to fail as it’s passed stages so far
Often referred to as the formality

Question 8

Repeat the process in the House of Lords

Answer 8

Repeat process in House of Lords-
If lords make amendments, it goes back to commons for consideration-
If bill started in lords it goes to commons instead

Question 9

Royal Assent

Answer 9

Final stage of process
Queen gives her approval of bill
Only a formality
Queen cannot refuse a bill