Royal Assent
Bill becomes an Act of Parliament
When a Bill has completed all its parliamentary stages in both Houses, it must have Royal Assent before it can become an Act of Parliament (law).
Royal Assent is the Monarch's agreement to make the Bill into an Act and is a formality.
There is no set time period between the consideration of amendments to the Bill and Royal Assent – it can even be a matter of minutes after Ping Pong is complete.
What happens at Royal Assent?
When Royal Assent has been given to a Bill, the announcement is usually made in both Houses - at a suitable break in each House's proceedings – by the Lord Speaker in the Lords and the Speaker in the Commons.
At prorogation (the formal end to a parliamentary year), Black Rod interrupts the proceedings of the Commons and summons MPs to the Lords Chamber to hear the Lords Commissioners announce Royal Assent for each Bill.
After Royal Assent
The legislation within the Bill may commence immediately, after a set period or only after a commencement order by a Government minister.
A commencement order is designed to bring into force the whole or part of an Act of Parliament at a date later than the date of the Royal Assent.
If there is no commencement order, the Act will come into force from midnight at the start of the day of the Royal Assent.
The practical implementation of an Act is the responsibility of the appropriate government department, not Parliament.