The different stages a bill goes through to become law 2.3 Flashcards
what is a ‘legislative bill’
Proposed laws passing through Parliament.
what is a ‘Government bill or public bill’
brought forward by government ministers to change public policy
what is a ‘Private bill’
sponsored by an organisation such as a company or a local authority, with the intention of changing the law as it affects that organisation.
- e.g. 2013 London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act, which introduced new powers for dealing with obstructions caused by builders and road users in the capital
what is a ‘hybrid bill’
It proposes changes to the law which would affect the general public, but certain groups or areas in particular.
what is a ‘private member’s bill’
In the Commons, MPs apply to introduce a bill through a ballot or use the ‘ten-minute rule’ to propose an issue in a short speech = affects the whole population and is introduced by a backbench MP or a member of the Lords
what are the five stages which a bill must go through to become law (happens in HOC and then HOL or vice versa)
- first reading
- second reading
- committee stage
- report stage
- third reading
FINISHED BY - House of Lords stage
- ROYAL ASSENT
what happens in the FIRST READING
The bill is made available to MPs but is not debated or voted on at this stage.
what happens in the SECOND READING
Principle of the bill is debated and a vote may be taken if it is contested.
what happens in the COMMITTEE STAGE READING
Bill is scrutinised in detail by a public bill committee = amendments are made if government wants to accept them
what happens in the REPORT STAGE READING
Whole House considers amendments made at the committee stage and may accept or reject them.
what happens in the THIRD READING
Amended bill is debated and voted on by the whole House.
what happens in the HOUSE OF LORDS STAGES
Bill goes through the same stages in the Lords, with the exception of the committee stage = carried out by the whole House.
HOL can propose amendments = HOC decides whether to accept, reject or further amend these. (parliamentary ping-pong)
- The bill can go back and forth between the two Houses for up to a year before it becomes law
what happens in the ROYAL ASSENT
Monarch signs the bill, making it law. sovereign is a constitutional monarch = not get involved in politics by refusing to sign a bill.
