Skip to Main Content

Law

Parliamentary Proceedings

The legislative process in the UK Parliament involves several stages:

  1. First Reading: The bill is introduced to the House of Commons or the House of Lords. This is a formality, and there is no debate or vote at this stage.
  2. Second Reading: The bill is debated in the chamber. Members of Parliament (MPs) or Lords discuss the general principles of the bill. A vote is taken at the end of the debate. If the bill passes, it moves on to the next stage.
  3. Committee Stage: A smaller group of MPs or Lords, known as a committee, examines the bill in detail. They can propose amendments to the bill.
  4. Report Stage: The bill, with any amendments made by the committee, is reported back to the full chamber for further debate and voting.
  5. Third Reading: This is the final debate on the bill in the chamber. Usually, only minor amendments are made at this stage. A final vote is taken.
  6. Other House: If the bill started in the House of Commons, it then goes to the House of Lords, and vice versa. The other House goes through the same stages (second reading, committee stage, report stage, third reading). If the other House makes amendments, the bill goes back to the original House for further consideration.
  7. Royal Assent: Once both Houses have agreed on the text of the bill, it is presented to the monarch for Royal Assent. This is a formality, and once given, the bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is law.

It's important to note that this is a simplified overview of the legislative process. In reality, the process can be complex and time-consuming, with many opportunities for debate, amendment, and potential delays.

(Picture and text reproduced from Parliament website under the Open Government Licence.)

 

There are several ways to track the progress of a bill through the UK Parliament:

Official Parliament website:

  • Progress of Public Bills: This page lists the dates of all stages for public bills in the current session. You can download it as an Excel file.
  • Public Bill pages: Each bill has its dedicated page with details on its progress and related documents.
  • Parliamentary website: The Parliamentary business, news and publications sections provide updates on legislative activities.

Other resources:

  • Parallel Parliament: This website offers a list of government bills currently before Parliament, along with their progress status.
  • GOV.UK: The government website provides guidance on the legislative process, explaining the steps a bill takes to become law.

Additional tips:

  • Search the bill's title: Use the search bar on the Parliament website or other resources to find specific information about the bill.
  • Check news and media: Follow relevant news outlets and parliamentary correspondents for updates and analysis on legislative developments.
  • Contact your MP: If you have specific questions or concerns about a bill, you can contact your Member of Parliament for information and to voice your opinion.

By using these resources and strategies, you can effectively track the progress of a bill and stay informed about its potential impact.

You can find information about your MP and their activities during their time in office:

  1. Find Your MP:
  1. Track Their Activity:
  • TheyWorkForYou: This website provides comprehensive information on your MP's activities, including their voting records, speeches in Parliament (Hansard), written questions and answers, and Early Day Motions (EDMs) they signed. You can easily search and filter through their contributions on various topics.
  • Public Whip: This website focuses on voting records and provides a detailed analysis of how MPs voted on specific issues.

Additional Resources:

  • MPs' websites and social media: Many MPs have personal websites or social media accounts where they share updates on their activities and views.
  • Local news and media outlets: Local newspapers and news websites often report on MPs' activities in their constituencies.

Hansard is the official verbatim report of proceedings in the UK Parliament, including debates, questions, and other remarks made by Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the House of Lords. It dates back to the early 19th century and is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, who was the first official printer to the Parliament at Westminster.

Importance of Hansard:

  • Primary Source: Hansard provides a direct and unfiltered record of parliamentary debates, offering insights into the legislative process, political views, and societal concerns of the time. This makes it an invaluable resource for researchers, historians, journalists, and anyone interested in understanding the development of law and policy.
  • Understanding Intent: For law students and legal professionals, Hansard is crucial for statutory interpretation. It helps clarify the intent behind legislation by revealing the discussions and arguments that shaped the law. This can be particularly useful when dealing with ambiguous or outdated provisions.
  • Transparency and Accountability: Hansard ensures transparency by making parliamentary proceedings accessible to the public. It allows citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable for their words and actions, fostering a more informed and engaged democracy.

Why Law Students Need Hansard:

  • Research: Hansard is a treasure trove of information for legal research projects, dissertations, and essays. It can provide context, arguments, and historical perspectives on various legal issues.
  • Understanding the Law: By studying Hansard, you gain a deeper understanding of how laws are created, debated, and amended. This knowledge is essential for interpreting and applying the law effectively.
  • Developing Legal Skills: Analysing parliamentary debates can help you hone your critical thinking, research, and writing skills. You will learn to identify arguments, evaluate evidence, and construct persuasive legal arguments.

How to Use Hansard:

  1. Access: Hansard is freely available online through the UK Parliament website. You can search by date, keyword, MP, or topic.
  2. Navigate: Each volume is divided into sections by date and house (Commons or Lords). Within each section, you can find individual speeches and remarks by MPs and Lords.
  3. Search Effectively: Use keywords and phrases to find relevant debates. You can also filter by date, speaker, or topic.
  4. Contextualise: Consider the historical context of the debate and the political affiliations of the speakers. This will help you interpret their arguments and motivations.
  5. Cite: When using Hansard in academic or legal writing, cite it properly using OSCOLA.

Keep up to date with the progress of Bills going through Parliament.

Full text of Public, Private and Hybrid Bills, plus their progress through Parliament; includes Acts passed this session.

Loading ...