Different Types of Parliamentary Bill

A Bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law that is presented for debate before Parliament.

Bills are introduced in either the House of Commons or House of Lords for examination, discussion and amendment.

When both Houses have agreed on the content of a Bill it is then presented to the reigning monarch for approval (known as Royal Assent).

Once Royal Assent is given a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is law.

Different types of Bills can be introduced by:

• The government
• Individual MPs or Lords
• Private individuals or organisations

There are three different types of Bill: Public, Private and Hybrid Bills. There is also another kind of Public Bill called Private Members' Bills.

Public bills are the most common and begin their journey in the HoC or the HoL - they relate to laws affecting the general population.

There are 2 types of public bill:

1. Government bill - introduced by a government minister.

2. Private members bill - introduced by an individual MP or a member of the HoL.

You can have your say on public bills by writing to your MP or to the relavant public bill committee. You can also contact a relevant member of the HoL or the government department responsible for the bill.

Private bills are usually promoted by organisations such as local authorities or public bodies when they want parliament to allow them to do something that they don't normally do.

Private bills only change the law as it applies to specific individuals or organisations, rather than the general public.Groups or individuals potentially affected by these changes can petition parliament against the proposed provate bill.

Occasionally a bill affects the public at large, but also affects certain indiviiduals in particular. These are known as 'hybrid bills'.

An example of a hybrid bill would be the bill to set up high speed rail links in the UK, which significantly affects those home owners living along the proposed route.