How laws are
made
Types of Bills
Public Bills
Private Bills
Intended to affect one
particular area or
organisation
Personal Bills
Affect one or two
people. Always
begin in the
Lords
Intended to affect the
public as a whole
Government
Bills
Private
Members’
Bills
Steered through
Sponsored by an
Parliament by a minister individual MP or a
from the appropriate
Peer
government department
Consultation stage
First Reading
The government makes a draft of the bill and asks senior officials to make comments.
The government announces the bill by reading out its title in the House of Commons to let
everyone know about it.
Second Reading
This is the main debating stage where all MPs can discuss the bill, ask questions
and vote on it. It could be voted out at this stage.
Committee Stage
A smaller group of MPs look at the bill in detail. They may make changes,
called ‘amendments’, based on their discussions.
Report Stage
Amendments made during the Committee Stage are reported to
everyone in the House of Commons. MPs may vote on these
amendments.
Third Reading
Overall consideration of the bill in the House of
Commons and final votes to decide whether it goes
any further.
The Lords Stages
The bill goes to the House of Lords who follow similar stages. They can suggest amendments to the bill and send it back
to the Commons, who may send it back again until an agreement can be reached. If no agreement can be reached, the
House of Commons can eventually vote to pass the law without consent from the House of Lords through an Act of
Parliament which gives them more power over the House of Lords.
The Queen signs-off the bill as a new law or ‘Act of Parliament’.
The Royal Assent
Consultation Stage
Consultation
Drafting
Pre-legislative Scrutiny
House of Lords
First Reading
Second Reading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
House of Commons
First Reading
Second Reading
Third Reading
Royal Assent
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Reading
ACT OF
PARLIAMENT