Sometimes the Government will set out their ideas for a bill in a discussion document, called a Green Paper. Individuals and organisations with an interest in the subject can then send their comments back to the Department.
The Government considers what people thought of its proposals and when necessary makes alterations to the bill. This White Paper then forms the basis of the bill to be introduced to Parliament.
The bill is then introduced to Parliament. The title of the bill is read out but there is no debate or vote. The First Reading is really just a way of letting members know a bill is coming up for discussion.
The Minister in charge explains the purpose of the bill and a one day debate is held in the House allowing MPs to express their views. If the House votes for the bill to proceed it then goes to the next stage.
A committee made up of a representative group of MPs examines the bill and suggests amendments. Sometimes a committee of the whole House hears a bill that is very controverisal or important.
The whole House is told what happened at the committee stage and if amendments were made the bill is reprinted.
The whole House looks at the bill with all the amendments and decides whether to accept it or reject it. Once a Bill has passed its Third Reading the whole process starts again in the the other House - the House of Lords. They can delay a bill, and peers will have lots of useful things to say about it but they can not stop it.
Once examined and agreed by both Houses the Monarch gives Royal Assent and the bill becomes an Act.
Read about how a law is made and then try a quiz.
Big
conversation | Dilemmas | Questionnaire
| News | About Parliament
How laws are made| Quiz |Links
| Main Website