The Legislative Process and its stages - Naomi Kent

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Overview and Context

What is Parliament?:

What is Parliament?

What does Parliament do?:

What does Parliament do? Makes and passes laws (Legislation) Holds Government to account (Scrutiny), including enabling them to set taxes Raises key issues

Parliament (Westminster):

Commons, Lords, Monarch Holds Government to account Passes laws Enables taxation Represents public Raises key issues Parliament (Westminster) Government (Whitehall) Some MPs and Lords Chosen by Prime Minister Runs public services and Government departments Accountable to Parliament

Legislation:

Government and individual members can propose laws All legislation proposed by the Government must be scrutinised by both Houses of Parliament Members can suggest changes (“amendments”) at particular stages Much of the most careful scrutiny goes on in Committee, particularly in the House of Lords Legislation

Types of legislation:

Public Bills – proposed changes to general law Government Bills Private Members Bills Private Bills - local/ one-off changes to laws Hybrid Bills – a mixture of the above Types of legislation

Government Bills:

Are given majority of time Sources / influences: Manifesto Current events Policy developments Finance / administration Sometimes follow Green and White papers Government Bills

Pre-legislative scrutiny:

Some Bills are considered by Select Committees before formal stages. Committees carry out full enquiry on Bill and report back to Government. Any enquiries will be listed in the ‘draft Bills’ section of www.parliament.uk Pre-legislative scrutiny

Passage through the Commons:

Passage through the Commons Bill is introduced to the House; a formality First opportunity for debate of the main principles of the Bill. Vote on whether the Bills proceeds Amendments can be proposed. Detailed examination of the Bill in a Public Bill Committee (knives may be used) Further amendment to the content of the Bill. All MPs may speak and vote; Speaker selects amendments for discussion Final chance for the Commons to debate the contents of a Bill, but no amendments. Vote on whether the Bill is approved

Passage through the Lords:

Passage through the Lords Bill is introduced to the House; a formality First opportunity for debate of the main principles of the Bill. List of Speakers is opened. Vote on whether the Bills proceeds Amendments can be proposed. Detailed examination of the Bill in a Committee of the Whole House (any Member). No time limit. Further line by line consideration of the Bill. All amendments can be discussed and any Member can take part. Final chance to debate and change the Bill. Amendments can be made. Vote on whether the Bill is approved

The final stages:

‘Ping-pong’ . Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of a Bill before it can become an Act of Parliament Monarch's agreement to make the Bill into an Act and is a formality. When Royal Assent has been given, the announcement is usually made in both Houses by the Lord Speaker in the Lords and the Speaker in the Commons The final stages

Tracking a Bill:

All Bills can be tracked at www.parliament.uk Bill document, explanatory notes, amendments, committee minutes and any research papers can be downloaded Sign up for e-mail updates Tracking a Bill

Where can I get information?:

www.parliament.uk Commons information: 020 7219 4272 / HCinfo@parliament.uk Lords information: 020 7219 3107 / hlinfo@parliament.uk Where can I get information?