the legislative process

what is a bill?

a proposed law which is introduced into parliament - once it is passed into law it becomes an act

what is a legislative programme?

for each parliamentary session the government has a legislative programme, a plan of bills it will ask parliament to consider in that session

what are the preparations of the bill?

when given a slot in the legislative programme, the department concerned will create a bill team to co-ordinate its preparation and passage - consists of a bill manager and other officials

what must happen for a bill to be introduced?

a bill cannot be introduced until is has been specifically cleared by a meeting of PBL Committee

what is the first reading?

a purely formal stage where the bill is read out, and the full bill is made public - no vote or debate

what is the second reading?

a government minister will open debate by explaining it, some debate but no amendments made - at the end the house will vote on the bill

what is the committee stage?

a line-by-line consideration of the bill - in commons, carried out by a Public Bill Committee of MPs that reflect the political composition of the house

what is the report stage?

amendments are discussed, and all MPs can propose amendments or new clauses that the speaker decides which are discussed

what is the third reading?

another general discussion of the bill immediately after report, often includes congratulations speeches

what is parliamentary ping pong?

if the bill is amended in the second house, it must return to the first to be considered. the first house can reject them, make changes or suggest alternatives. when it moves back and forth multiple times it is called ‘ping pong’

legislative process in the house of lords

self-regulation, meaning there is no limit on debate time

no PBC, usually just debated in the house, or ‘grand committee’ for minor bills

if a commons bill is defeated it fails, but can be passed in the next session without the lords

lords don’t have to agree with ‘money bills’

won’t block manifesto commitments at second reading

what is royal assent?

final stage to become a law

how does legislative scrutiny work in the commons?

a departmental select committee carries out scrutiny

how does legislative scrutiny work in the lords?

typically done by an ad-hoc committee - since 2012 the lords have committed to at least one post-legislative scrutiny committee a year

argument for the executive dominating the UK’s legislative process

PM and cabinet sets legislative agenda

majority of bills government bills

government whips - party line

control over the parliamentary timetable

the government can limit debate on specific bills

argument against the executive dominating the UK’s legislative process

MPs have some power to amend or reject legislation

Public Bill Committees scrutinise, allowing MPs to suggest changes

House of Lords acts as a revising chamber, but has limited power

judicial review process ensures laws passed comply with constitutional principles

the opposition can propose amendments or table motions of no confidence

example of necessity of the house of lords?

the domestic abuse act 2021 was considered for 8 months in the house of lords - heard from pressure groups such as refuge and women’s aid

how many defeats did blair face in the commons versus lords in between 1997 to 2005?

undefeated in the commons, over 300 defeats in the lords

example of government emergency legislation

the coronavirus act 2020

recent landmark laws passed by parliament

constitutional reform act 2005 - set up the supreme court

marriage (same-sex couples) act 2013

examples of rushed debate and consideration of bills

boris johnson gave the commons just 5 hours to debate his over 1000 page long brexit deal

parliament criticised for allegedly rushing the passage of the public order act

example of how the lords can be ineffective

in 2021, the lords suggested amendments on the trade bill , however eventually backed down and accepted the commons’ version

example of Private Members’ Bill

pet abduction act 2024

murder (abolition of death penalty) act 1965

abortion act 1967

ongoing assisted dying bill introduced by kim leadbeater

keir starmer defeats in the house of commons?

none

therea may minority government defeats?

defeated in house of commons on 33 divisions

how many times was cameron’s coalition government defeated in the commons?

defeated 7 times

how many defeats in the commons for tony blair?

4 commons defeats, all within one year (nov 2005 to july 2006)

how many commons defeats for thatcher?

4 commons defeats

how many commons defeats for johnson’s minority from july to december 2019?

defeated on 12 divisions

how many common’s defeats for johnson’s majority?

defeated 4 times

how many lords defeats for keir starmer?

one, on the winter fuel payment

rwanda bill in the house of lords?

more than 20 amendments for the rwanda bill were defeated in the house of lords