Passage of Public Bills

Public Bills must normally be passed by both Houses. Bills relating mainly to financial matters are almost always introduced in the Commons. Under the provisions of Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, the powers of the Lords in relation to 'money Bills' are very restricted. The Parliament Acts also make it possible for a Bill to be passed by the Commons without the consent of the Lords in certain (very rare) circumstances.

The process of passing a Public Bill is similar in each House. On presentation the Bill is considered, without debate, to have been read for a first time and is printed. After an interval, which may be between one day and several weeks, a Government Bill will receive its second reading debate, during which the general principles other Bill are discussed.

If it gets a second reading in the Commons, a Bill will normally be passed to a standing committee for detailed examination and amendment. In the Lords, the committee stage usually takes place on the floor of the House, and this procedure may also be followed in the Commons if MPs decide to do so (usually in cases where there is a need to pass the Bill quickly or where it raises matters of constitutional importance).

The committee stage is followed by the report stage ('consideration') on the floor of the House, during which further amendments may be made. In the Commons, the report stage is usually followed immediately by the third reading debate, when the Bill is reviewed in its final form; in the Lords, the third reading debate usually takes place on a different day. Substantive amendments to a Bill cannot be made at third reading.

After completing its third reading in one House, a Bill is sent to the other House, where it passes through all its stages once more and where it is, more often than not, further amended. Amendments, made by the second House must be agreed by the first, or a compromise reached, before a Bill can go for Royal Assent.

In the Commons the House may vote to limit the time available for consideration of a Bill. This is done by passing a 'timetable’ motion proposed by the Government, commonly known as a 'guillotine'. There are special procedures for Public Bills which bring together pieces of existing legislation.

Royal Assent

When a Bill has passed through all its parliamentary stages, it is sent to the Queen for Royal Assent, after which it becomes an Act of Parliament and is part of the law of the land. The Royal Assent has not been refused since 1707. In the 1999-2000 sessions 45 Public Bills were enacted.

1. Say if the statements are true or false.

1. The House of Lords is entitled to introduce money bills first.

2. It is not acceptable for bills to be adopted without the agreement of the Lords.

3. It is available for a bill to have one month interval before its second reading.

4. The standing committee usually makes amendments to a second reading of a bill.

5. Important amendments are likely to be made at third reading in the Lords.

6. Both Houses should come to the joint decision about a bill before it is passed to the Queen.

7. Since 1707 no bill has been refused by the Queen.

2. Translate the following terms into Russian:

   • Government Bill;

   • Public Bill;

   • Private Bill;

   • ‘White Papers’;

   • ‘Green Papers’;

3. Get into two teams. Using the information from the texts, prepare a multiple-choice quiz for your rival team.

Example: No new law can be made by Parliament unless it

1. has been approved by the Prime Minister.

2. has passed through Parliament and received the Royal Assent. (true)

3. is popular with the public.

4. Think of some ideas for new legislation. Define kinds of Bills, form teams, representing the House of Commons and the House of Lords and debate on the bill, passing it through Parliament.