Stages of the bill 2

When a bill passes through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords it goes through different key stages known as readings before it becomes law. This is the same in both houses; Commons and Lords. The First Reading: This is the first stage of the passage of a bill and which the Clerk reads out the short title of the bill being read out in the chamber. This is then given a date for the Second Reading and an order to be printed making it available to all members. Second Reading: The second reading is the most important stage for a bill and it is when the bill is discussed and voted on. It the bill gets a pass it will then move on to the committee stage. Committee stage When the bill has passed its second reading in the House of Commons it the goes through to the committee stage. In the House of Commons it is an opportunity for a small number of MPs take a look at the bill. The committee will look at legal issues, the practicality issues and may suggest amendments the House of Lords the committee stage takes place before a committee of the whole house. After this stage is completed it is then returned to the house for the report stage. Report stage The whole house, either the House of Commons or the house of lords reviews the amended form of the bill. This is a opportunity for reconsideration and decision on points raised during the committee stage and for further amendments to be proposed.

Third reading This stage follows after the bill in the houses moved onto the third, this is the final opportunity for the members to vote on the bill. But in the house of lards there is

an opportunity for amendments to be tabled. After the bill has gone through this process in one of the houses it then goes through the whole process again. Royal Assent This stage is when the monarch agrees to make the bill part of the parliament. Act of parliament This stage is the final stage of the bill, meaning it has become a law. An advantage of this process is the members of parliament have the opportunity to discuss bills before becoming law. The government is responsible to parliament and it show a democracy taking place. A disadvantage is the time it can take to get a bill through parliament