Guides

Increasingly new pieces of government legislation are published in draft about one Session ahead of their intended introduction and passage. Draft Bills are normally subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny at the hands of a joint-committee of MPs and peers formed for that purpose. Such a committee will take evidence from individuals and organisations who express an...Read More

Pillar three relates to justice and home affairs (JHA), another highly sensitive political area. As such, decision-making under pillar three continues to be primarily intergovernmental. This is probably the least developed area of EU common policy, because of the cultural and legal barriers to harmonisation and the implications it has for national sovereignty. Indeed, the...Read More

Private Members' Bills are Public Bills that are introduced by back-benchers. Any MP can introduce a Bill on any day by informing the Speaker that he or she wishes to do so but there are a number of formal ways in which this can be arranged, some of which increase the chances of the Bill...Read More

Pillar two relates to common foreign and security policy (CFSP). The Maastricht Treaty provides for the EU to develop CFSP, covering all areas of foreign and security policy with the following objectives: 1. To safeguard the common values, interests, independence and integrity of the EU, in conformity with the UN Charter 2. To protect the...Read More

Primary legislation (Bills and Acts) is split into two categories – Public Bills and Private Bills (with Hybrid Bills in a sub-category between the two). Public Bills are pieces of legislation that affect everyone and every organisation in the same way. For example, a Bill that introduces a new driving offence applies to everyone who...Read More

Once the political decision has been taken to pursue a specific policy or legislative objective, work on drafting a proposal begins within the relevant DG. Most initial proposals are drafted by a middle-ranking 'A' grade civil servant, and is gradually passed upwards (being revised throughout) through the DG's hierarchy, to the commissioner's cabinet, to the...Read More

Prime Minister's Questions (widely known as PMQs) is the set-piece of the Parliamentary week. The Prime Minister comes to the Commons at noon every Wednesday when Parliament is sitting and answers questions from back-benchers and opposition leaders. Unlike other oral question sessions, the Prime Minister has no foreknowledge of what is to be asked, although...Read More

Where a Bill has fallen because it has been endorsed by the Commons but opposed repeatedly by the Lords, the Parliament Acts may be used. The Acts – the first in 1911 and the second in 1949 – allow for a Bill to become law without the agreement of the Lords when certain conditions have...Read More

If an MP believes another MP has broken the procedural rules of the House, a Point of Order may be raised with Speaker. Points of order may be taken by the chair at any time except during oral questions or statements and prior notice may have been given. The accusing MP makes the case and...Read More

Increasingly new pieces of government legislation are published in draft about one Session ahead of their intended introduction and passage. Draft Bills are normally subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny at the hands of a joint-committee of MPs and peers formed for that purpose. Such a committee will take evidence from individuals and organisations who express an...Read More

The Scottish parliament may legislate on any issue that is not in a reserved area. To become law, a bill must be introduced to the parliament, be considered and passed by MSPs, be agreed by the UK government and be given Royal Assent. A bill can be introduced in three ways: Executive bills are introduced...Read More

Private Members' Bills are Public Bills that are introduced by back-benchers. Any peer can introduce a Bill on any day. Private members' Bills have to wait for time to be allocated to them via the Usual Channels. They tend to be debated during dinner breaks or on Fridays. A Bill without Government support is unlikely...Read More

Plaid Cymru emerged from the 2005 general election with somewhat disappointing results. It lost the Ceredigion seat to the Liberal Democrats and saw its overall representation fall to three points, its lowest level since 1992. Its share of the vote was also down, leaving the party with just 12.6%. But things change. In 2006, the...Read More

Our guide to plenary sessions provides information on how business agendas and debates are tabled, the passage of legislation, and voting processes in the Assembly. To find out more on this issue click through our guide to plenary sessions in the Welsh Assembly.Read More

Primary legislation (Bills and Acts) is split into two categories – Public Bills and Private Bills (with Hybrid Bills in a sub-category between the two). Public Bills are pieces of legislation that affect everyone and every organisation in the same way. For example, a Bill that introduces a new driving offence applies to everyone who...Read More

Parliament is overseen by a presiding officer who is elected at the first plenary meeting following an election. An official report of plenary meetings is normally published on the morning following the end of proceedings. MSPs almost always deliver their speeches in English, but they are permitted to use Scots Gaelic if they wish. A...Read More

Parliamentary questions take the form of either starred questions or written questions in the House of Lords. Starred questions are oral questions that tended to be based on topical issues. Written questions are tabled and answered usually within 14 days and published in Hansard. To find out more on this issue click through our guide...Read More

The Privy Council, as body of government, predates the Cabinet and the existence of the Prime Minister by many centuries. Originally the private council of trusted advisers surrounding the sovereign, it has evolved to become a somewhat hidden instrument of government. It also has judicial powers (as the appeal court for some Commonwealth nations and...Read More

Where a Bill has fallen because it has been endorsed by the Commons but opposed repeatedly by the Lords, the Parliament Acts may be used. The Acts – the first in 1911 and the second in 1949 – allow for a Bill to become law without the agreement of the Lords when certain conditions have...Read More