1. How laws are made

2. Types of Bills Private Bills Public Bills Personal Bills Government
Intended to affect one particular area or organisation
Intended to affect the public as a whole
Personal Bills
Government
Bills
Private
Members’
Bills
Affect one or two people. Always begin in the Lords
Steered through Parliament by a minister from the appropriate government department
Sponsored by an individual MP or a Peer

3. The Queen signs-off the bill as a new law or ‘Act of Parliament’.
Consultation stage
The government makes a draft of the bill and asks senior officials to make comments.
First Reading
The government announces the bill by reading out its title in the House of Commons to let everyone know about it.
Second Reading
This is the main debating stage where all MPs can discuss the bill, ask questions and vote on it. It could be voted out at this stage.
Committee Stage
A smaller group of MPs look at the bill in detail. They may make changes, called ‘amendments’, based on their discussions.
Amendments made during the Committee Stage are reported to everyone in the House of Commons. MPs may vote on these amendments.
Report Stage
Overall consideration of the bill in the House of Commons and final votes to decide whether it goes any further.
Third Reading
The Lords Stages
The bill goes to the House of Lords who follow similar stages. They can suggest amendments to the bill and send it back to the Commons, who may send it back again until an agreement can be reached. If no agreement can be reached, the House of Commons can eventually vote to pass the law without consent from the House of Lords through an Act of Parliament which gives them more power over the House of Lords.
The Royal Assent
The Queen signs-off the bill as a new law or ‘Act of Parliament’.

4. Consultation Stage House of Lords House of Commons Royal Assent BILL
First Reading
Drafting
Second Reading
BILL
Pre-legislative Scrutiny
Committee Stage
Report Stage
BILL
Third Reading
House of Commons
BILL
First Reading
Second Reading
Royal Assent
Committee Stage
BILL
ACT OF PARLIAMENT
Report Stage
Third Reading