10. Stages which a law has to pass before it becomes a Statute or an act of Parliament

The laws passed by Parliament are called Acts of Parliament or Statutes. Before a law becomes a statute it has to pass through a number of stages in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords.

• Introduction and first reading.

• law is repreasented in the House of Commons

• It is called a Bill

• MPs are informed about the proposed legislation

• a date is given for the next stage

• bill is printed

1. Second reading

• The bill is discussed and debated in the HoC

• a vote is taken

• front-bench Government Ministers and their Opposition counterparts makethe opening and closing speeches

1. Committee stage

• The Bill is examined line by line by a small committee of MPs.

• The committee may agree to recieve representations and suggestions for and against the proposed new law

• Amendments will be passed if a majority of the committee members vote for them.

1. Report stage

• A report is made to the HoC on what has happened at the Committee stage

• MPs discuss the changes have been made by the сommettee

• it’s possible to make amendments to a Bill

1. Third reading

• It’s a final debate.

• A vote is taken on whether the Bill as amended in the Committee and Report stages, should proceed or not.

• After proceeding the Bill is passed from the HoC on to the HoL

1. The House of Lords

• The HoL too may make amendments to the Bill.

• If it happens, the billis sent back to the HoC for further consideration.

• Not all Bills begin their lives in the HoC, many are introduced in the HoL

1. The Royal Assent

• After all stages the Bill is sent to the monarch. It doesn’t become law until the Royal Assent, which is given by the Queen singing the Bill.

• In practice the Queen always signs her assent to laws passed by Parliament.

• Queen is entitled to comment upon them or she may «advice and warn».

• Her views will be considered, ut if they are rejected, she must then sign the Bill.

• Then the Bill is sent back to the HoL for a special ceremony.

Then the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament (or Statute) and everyone should obey it.