Билет 10.
Stages which a law has to pass before it becomes a statute or an Act of Parliament.
The laws passed by Parliament are called Acts of Parliament or Statutes. There are seven mail stages and each of them is given a special name.
Introduction and first reading. First the law is presented to the House of Commons. At this stage it is called a Bill.
Second reading. The Bill is discussed or debated in the House of Commons and a vote is taken as to whether it is in principle a law of which Mps approve, or whether it should go no further.
Committee stage. The Bill examined line by line, or clause by clause, in great detail by a small committee of Mps. At this stage the committee may agree to receive representations and suggestions for and against the proposed new law from anyone who is likely to be particularly affected by it. Mps make amendments. Most of the amendments passed at this stage will be proposed or supported by the Government.
Report stage. At this time it is possible to make amendments to a Bill, and experience show that this often happens.
Third reading. It is a final debate, frequently held immediately after the report stage. A vote is taken on whether the Bill should proceed or not.
The House of Lords. Once again the Bill goes through a number of stages, but this time it is carefully examined by members of the House of Lords. They too may make amendments to the Bill. If this happens, the Bill is sent back to the House of Commons for further consideration.
The royal assent. After a Bill passed through all its stages in parliament, it is sent to the monarch. It does not become law until the Queen has «assented» or agreed to it. This Royal assent is given by the Queen signing the Bill. When the Queen has signed a Bill it is sent back to the House of Lords, where in an ancient ceremony the Clerk of the Parliament pronounced the Norman - French words which signify that she has given her assent.
Bills which have to go through all these stages may take many months to become Acts of Parliament.