How Laws are made in the UK Parliament

1. How Laws are made in the UK Parliament

2. Smartphone Task… Find the definitions… Public Bill Private Members’ Bill White Paper Green Paper Committee of the Whole House Select Committees

3. Private Member’s Bill • Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Lords who aren't government ministers. • As with other Public Bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population. • A minority of Private Members' Bills become law but, by creating publicity around an issue, they may affect legislation indirectly.

4. White Paper A statement of policy by the government outlined in terms of legislative proposals. Green Paper A consultative document that usually outlines a range of legislative options. Committee of the Whole House A meeting of the full chamber of the House of Commons to consider the committee stage of a government bill.

5. How a law is made in the UK

6. How laws are passed… A government bill has to go through the following parliamentary stages; Preparatory stages First reading Second reading Committee stage Report stage Third reading The ‘other place’

7. Preparatory stages • Before bills are passed, their provisions may have been outlined in a White Paper or a Green Paper. • Since 2002, most government bills have been published in draft for what is called pre-legislative scrutiny, which is carried out by select committees.

8. First reading • The bill is introduced to Parliament through the formal reading of its title and (usually) the setting of a date for its second reading. • There is no debate or vote at this stage.

9. Second reading • This is the first substantive stage. • It involves a full debate that considers the principles of (rather than the details) of the bill. • It is the first stage at which the bill can be defeated. • Government defeats at 2nd reading are very rare, occurring only twice between 1945-2017.

10. Committee stage • This is when the details of the bill are considered line by line. • It is carried out by a public bill committee (formerly known as a standing committee) consisting of about 18 MPs, but it may be considered by a Committee of the Whole House. • Most amendments are made at this stage, and new provisions can be included.

11. A Public Bill Committee is a committee set up by the House of Commons to consider the details of a particular Bill. • All Bills, other than Money Bills, are automatically sent to a Public Bill Committee following their second reading unless they are committed to a committee of the Whole House. • Public Bill Committees only last for the duration of the Bill concerned. • The composition of the committees must match the size of the parties in the House. • If a party has 60% of the seats in the Commons then the party will have 60% of the membership of the Public Bill Committee. • Public Bill Committees can, like a Select Committee, take oral evidence as part of its scrutiny of the Bill. Public Bill Committee

12. Report stage • This is when the committee reports back to the full House of Commons on any changes made during the committee stage. • The Commons may amend or reverse changes at the report stage.

13. Third reading • This replicates the second reading in that it is a debate of the full chamber, enabling the House to take an overview of the bill in its amended state. • No amendments may be made at this stage.

14. The ‘other place’ • Major bills are considered first by the Commons, but other bills may start in the Lords. • Once passed by one chamber, the bill goes through essentially the same process in what is referred to as the ‘other place’, before finally going to the monarch for the Royal Assent.

15. Task; The Legislative Process for Dummies Create a Dummies’ Guide to the Legislative Process covering the following; • Why are new laws needed? • Draft Bills • Bills – types etc • Passage of a Bill – the process • Acts – what happens to them • Delegated legislation • The Parliament Acts http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/