1. National Assembly for Wales:
The legislation process

3. Context

4. A very brief history…
1999 – First Assembly sits.
2006 –Government of Wales Act 2006
2011 – Referendum on further law making powers.
2014- Wales Act 2014

5. Different types of legislation
Primary legislation
Acts
Green Papers/White Papers/Draft Bills
Public Bills
Welsh Government;
Assembly Commission;
Assembly Committees;
Assembly Members.
Private Bills
Hybrid Bills
Emergency Bills
Secondary legislation
Directions
Guidance and circulars
Regulations
Orders
Rules

6. Unnumbered subsection
Structure of a Bill
Short title
Bill status
Long title
Words of enactment
Part heading
Part title
Chapter heading
Chapter title
Section heading
Unnumbered subsection
Line numbering
Paragraph

7. Overview

8. Scrutinising Bills Possible pre-legislative scrutiny. Introduction
STAGE 1: Consideration of general principles (committee and plenary)
STAGE 2: Amendments (committee)
STAGE 3: Amendments (plenary)
Optional amendment stages: Amendments (plenary)
STAGE 4: Vote in plenary (all AMs) to pass / reject the proposed Bill
If passed, Bills will be submitted to HM Queen for Royal Assent.

9. Stage 1: Consideration of general principles

10. Formal meeting of Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee

12. Stage 1- plenary Stage Opportunities for scrutiny Stage 1: debate
A debate and vote on the general principles of the Bill in Plenary.
Opportunity to debate the Bill, ask questions of the Member in charge, and seek commitments.
Opportunity to vote on whether the Bill should proceed to the next stage.
If the Assembly does not agree the motion, the Bill falls.
Financial resolution
A debate and vote on whether the Assembly should agree a financial resolution for the Bill.
Opportunity to debate the financial implications of the Bill.
Opportunity to vote on whether the Assembly should agree a financial resolution for the Bill.

13. Stage 2: Amendments in Committee

14. Stage 2 Stage Opportunities for scrutiny Stage 2: tabling period
Members can table amendments to the Bill.
Members can seek to table amendments to change the text of the Bill, for example to achieve their policy intentions, to strengthen existing provisions, or to add or remove provisions.
Members can add their name in support of other Members’ amendments, or table amendments to amendments
Stage 2: proceedings
Debate and disposal of tabled amendments in Committee.
Opportunity to debate all amendments tabled to the Bill, and to vote on whether or not they should be agreed.

15. What is an amendment? What is an amendment?
“An amendment to a Bill may only propose one change to the text of the Bill; an amendment to an amendment may only propose one change to the text of that amendment.” [Presiding Officer’s Determination on Proper Form – Amendments to a Public Bill]
Types of change:
the leaving out of text and the insertion of different text in its place;
the leaving out of text (NB can include leaving out a whole section);
the insertion of text (NB can include inserting a new section).

16. Amendments to insert text
In context:
Amendment instruction:
Section 40, page 25, after line 33, insert—
‘(d) section 7 of the 2014 Act (other overarching duties: UN Principles and Conventions.’.

17. Amendments to leave out text
In context:
Amendment instruction:
Section 3, page 3, line 4, leave out ‘physical tasks and’.

18. Amendments to leave out and insert text
In context:
Amendment instruction:
Section 26, page 17, line 3, leave out ‘may’ and insert ‘must’.

19. Stage 3: Amendments in Plenary

20. Stages of primary legislative scrutiny
Opportunities for scrutiny
Stage 3: tabling period
Members can table amendments to the Bill.
Members can seek to table amendments to change the text of the Bill, for example to achieve their policy intentions, to strengthen existing provisions, or to add or remove provisions.
Members can add their name in support of other Members’ amendments, or table amendments to amendments
Stage 3: proceedings
Debate and disposal of tabled amendments in Plenary.
Opportunity to debate all selected amendments to the Bill, and to vote on whether or not they should be agreed.

21. Optional additional amendment stages &

22. Stages of primary legislative scrutiny
Opportunities for scrutiny
Additional amending stages:
The Assembly can resolve to consider the Bill at additional, optional amending stages.
Members can seek to table amendments to change the text of the Bill, for example to achieve their policy intentions, to strengthen existing provisions, or to add or remove provisions from the Bill.
Stage 4:
A debate and vote on whether the Assembly should pass the Bill.
Opportunity to debate the Bill, and vote on whether it should be passed by the Assembly and become law.
If the motion is not agreed by the Assembly, the Bill falls.

23. Following
Stage 4…

24. Stages of primary legislative scrutiny
Opportunities for scrutiny
Period of Intimation:
A four-week period after the Assembly has passed the Bill.
Counsel General or Attorney General may refer the question whether the Bill, or any provision of the Bill, is within the Assembly’s legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision, and the Secretary of State for Wales may make an order prohibiting the Bill from being sent for Royal Assent.
Royal Assent:
Signing of Letters Patent by the Monarch to indicate formal agreement.
Application of the Welsh Seal by the First Minister.
Commencement:
- The provisions in the Act come into force as provided in the legislation

26. I’m done. Questions?