Legislative process
-
First reading: Bill title read in the House by relevant government minister
-
Second reading: Main depate on principles of bill take place.
-
Government defeats are rare, last time was Shops Bill 1986, 72 Con backbenchers rebelled against Thatcher’s three line whip
-
Committee stage: Sent to public bill committees for suggesting amendments and calling expert witnesses
-
Report stage: Amendments agreed in committee considered by the House
-
Further amendments can be put to vote
-
Third reading: Final debate on the amended bill, no changes can be made
-
Sent to the other house to go through same process
-
Royal assent
Role of parliament
Committees
-
Backbench Business Committee
-
Allows backbenchers to decide for themselves the topic of debate for one day a week
-
Put in by Cameron’s coalition government
-
Public Bill Committees
-
Scrutinise legislation
-
Only last for the lifetime of a bill
-
Government always has a majority
-
Can take evidence from public and pressure groups
-
Lords Committees
-
Select Committees