ABSTRACT
Approximately two-thirds of the time of the United Kingdom’s House of Commons is devoted to the consideration of proposals for legislation. In order to effect changes in the law, any proposal must receive the authority of Parliament: Parliament legitimises policy objectives. A mere decision of Parliament, in the form of a Resolution of the Commons, cannot change the law of the land. The majority of Bills will be those put forward by the government to implement its policy. Bills fall into seven categories: Public Bills, Private Bills, Hybrid Bills, Money Bills, Private Member’s Bills, Consolidation Bills and Bills which are intended to affect only England. The procedure for passing a Bill depends on its classification. Most attention is devoted to the legislative procedure for Public Bills. The majority of Bills considered by Parliament will be introduced by the government of the day.
