Bills

Public, Private Members and Private Bills

What are Bills?

All Acts of Parliament start as a bill or a draft law that propose for a change in the law.

What are the types of Bills?

There are 3 types of bills

Public Bills

Private Members Bills

Private Bills

What are Public Bills?

They are public bills introduced by a government which involves matters of public policy that will either affect the whole country or a large section on it. Most bills fill into this category.

E.G- Energy Act 2023

What are Private Members Bill?

They are public bills which are sponsored by an individual MP on a topic they are keen on. 20 members are chosen from a ballot and take turns presenting their bill to parliament. Only a few private members bill have become law.

E.G-British Sign Language Act 2022

What are Private Bills?

They are bills that affect only individual people or corporations.

E.G-Bishop Stratford Cemetery Act 2024

What are the types of Private Members Bill?

There are 3 types of private members bill. These become law if the government support it otherwise it is less likely to become law.

Ballot Bill

Ten Minute Rule Bill (TMRB)

Presentation Bill

What is a Ballot Bill?

This is when 20 names of MP’s who want to introduce a new PMB are drawn in a ballot. This is where they have the best chance of their idea becoming law because they have priority over other PMB.

What is a Ten Minute Rule Bill?

One TMRB can be presented each day with prior notice. The MP’s have a 10 minute speech where they can introduce there idea for a law. This is mainly used by MP’s to draw parliament attention to a specific issue.

What is a Presentation Bill?

This is when an MP can introduce a bill of their choice with prior notice. There is no speech or debate for the bill. With no speech or debate this is likely not to become law as they are less useful to MP’s.

Why do they succeed or fail?

Even when some PMB have become law it is less likely for them to become law as they do not automatically have the backing of the government. They can fail as they can be obstructed by other MPs ‘talking out‘. PMB recently passed and was given Royal Assent

E.G- Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024.