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Guide to Making Legislation

SECTION A: INTRODUCTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS & BIDDING FOR LEGISLATION

  1. How To Use This Guide
  2. The Government's Legislative Programme and The Work Of Legislation Committee
  3. Summary of Stages in the Legislative Process
  4. Key Players in Making Legislation
  5. Securing a Slot in the Legislative Programme
  6. The Bill Team and Bill Management
  7. Collective Agreement

SECTION B: PREPARING THE BILL FOR INTRODUCTION

  1. Preparing the Bill for Introduction - Checklist of Tasks to Be Completed By Departments
  2. Drafting the Bill
  3. Draft Legislative Programme
  4. Explanatory Notes
  5. The European Convention of Human Rights (Echr)
  6. Other Legal Issues
  7. Impact Assessment
  8. Devolution - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  9. Delegated Powers
  10. Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories
  11. Queen's Consent
  12. Tax and Public Expenditure
  13. Handling Strategies
  14. Queen's Speech and Legislation Committee Approval for Introduction
  15. Publication in Draft and Pre-Legislative Scrutiny

SECTION C: COMMONS STAGES

  1. Overview of Commons Stages, Minimum Intervals Between Stages and Commons Sitting Times
  2. Commons Introduction and First Reading
  3. Commons Second Reading
  4. Money Resolution and Ways and Means Resolution
  5. Programming
  6. Commons Committee Stage
  7. Commons Remaining Stages (Report and Third Reading)
  8. Carrying Over Legislation

SECTION D: IMPORTANT POINTS FOR THE COMMONS AND LORDS

  1. Handling of Amendments in the Commons and Lords
  2. Use of Hansard in Construing Statute

SECTION E: LORDS STAGES

  1. Overview of Lords Stages and Differences from Commons Stages 
  2. Lords Introduction and First Reading
  3. Lords Second Reading
  4. Lords Committee Stages
  5. Lords Remaining Stages (Report and Third Reading)

SECTION F: FURTHER ACTION AFTER COMPLETING COMMONS AND LORDS STAGES AND AFTER ROYAL ASSENT

  1. Consideration of Amendments and "Ping Pong"
  2. Royal Assent and Commencement
  3. Further Action after Royal Assent
  4. Post-Legislative Scrutiny

SECTION G: OTHER TYPES OF GOVERNMENT BILL

  1. Hybrid Bills
  2. Consolidation Bills
  3. Tax Law Rewrite Bills

SECTION H: PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS

  1. Private Members' Bills: Introduction
  2. Private Members' Bills: Parliamentary Procedure
  3. Private Member's Bills: Responding to Non-Government Bills
  4. Government "Handout" Bills

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