Overview of the legislative process in the UK Parliament will be forthcoming, ye have been warned.

Okay so, here follows a crash course in making legislation or "How a Bill progresses through Parliament 101"

The UK Parliament is a bi-cameral legislature: there are two chambers, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Commons is the de facto main chamber; the Lords is the revising chamber.

Fun fact: a Bill may start its passage in the UK Parliament in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords! But it's more likely to be PMBs originating in the Lords. Government legislation esp big important Bills will originate in the Commons.

Regardless of which House they originate in, all Bills must complete the same stages in both Houses.

There are five stages of legislation in each House: First Reading, Second Reading, Committee Stage, Report Stage and Third Reading.*

*Business motions/resolutions amending Standing Orders in the Lords can see stages effectively reduced to a formality; these are conventional parliamentary procedural characteristics of fast-tracked legislation+so don't happen frequently(but happen a bit more than ye would think)

Let's say the Government is going to introduce a Big Important Bill. There are contentious provisions in the Bill. How does it progress? Are there chances to amend it? Yup! The legislative process is basically a series of stages to allow for scrutiny, examination and amendment.

So the Government introduces the Bill in the Commons. It will usually be introduced by notice of presentation. Its short title is read out before the day's main business and after questions and statements and a Minister nods as if to say "yup that's the one, let's gooo"

That marks First Reading. This is basically a formal introduction and takes place without debate. The date for Second Reading will be named by a Minister (a whip usually) but again that's a formality. The real date is named by the Leader of the House in a business statement.

Next up, Second Reading. This stage provides the first occasion for MPs to debate the general principles and provisions of the Bill! This is not the stage for amendments, but rather a chance to highlight issues with the Bill, or make clear what Clauses ye would amend.

In our scenario, the relevant Gov Minister moves the debate, outlining the Bill's context, why it is needed, w/overview of the Bill's provisions. This is followed by the response of the relevant Opposition spokesperson who will indicate the Opposition's position on the Bill.

Then it's woo hoo let's get this party started as the debate opens to other Opposition parties+backbench MPs. These speeches are important b/c they indicate to the Gov the positions of other Parties/MPs incl whether they generally support Bill but have issues w/specific Clauses.

(I've spent my summer reading hours of Hansard reports for different stages of anti-terrorism Bills introduced in the aftermath of terrorist attacks+basically maj of MPs supported the general aims / principles of Bill but had issues w/some Clauses; they voted for SR or abstained)

Upon conclusion of debate, MPs will vote to determine whether the Bill should be given its Second Reading, meaning it can proceed to its next stage.

If a Bill fails to get a Second Reading, it can
progress no further. However, this is rare for Government-introduced Bills given they (usually will) have a working majority in the Commons.

The Opposition may choose not to vote against Second Reading, for example on the grounds the general principle of the Bill to place something on a statutory footing / provide regulatory framework, but could have reservations about specific Clauses. So: vote in favour, or abstain.

Up next, Committee Stage!

Now, this is the stage of detailed scrutiny. Parties/MPs will issues about certain Clauses may vote for Second Reading or abstain so that the Bill reaches this stage, and amendments can be proposed.

Most Bills are considered by a Public Bill Committee. However, Bills that are constitutionally significant will have all (or some) of their Committee Stage on the floor of the House, the (aptly-named) Committee of the Whole House.