Early Parliamentary General Election Bill proceeds to Royal Assent
31 October 2019
The Early Parliamentary General Election Bill had its remaining stages, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading, in the Lords on Wednesday 30 October.
Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the bill it received Royal Assent on 31 October. Royal Assent is the monarch's agreement to make the bill into an Act of Parliament (law).
- Catch up on Parliament TV
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- Bills and legislation: Early Parliamentary General Election Bill
- Lords Library note - Early Parliamentary General Election Bill: Briefing for Lords stages
- What is second reading?
- What is committee stage?
- What is report stage?
- What is third reading?
- What is Royal Assent?
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Conservative), Leader of the House of Lords, opened the debate on the bill and responded on behalf of the government.
Second reading is the first opportunity for members to debate the key principles and main purpose of the bill.
Prior to second reading, members agreed to Baroness Evans of Bowes Park's proposal that the normal rules on how Lords business runs should be suspended for this bill, to allow the remaining stages – committee stage, report stage and third reading - to be taken on the same day.
Committee stage is the first chance for line-by-line examination of the bill and an opportunity for amendments (changes) to be put forward.
Report stage gives all members of the Lords a further opportunity to examine and make amendments (changes) to a bill.
Third reading in the Lords is the chance for members to ‘tidy up' a bill, concentrating on making sure the eventual law is effective and workable – without loopholes.
When a bill has completed all its parliamentary stages in both Houses, it must be given Royal Assent to become an Act of Parliament (law).
Early Parliamentary General Election Bill summary
This bill aims to make provision for a parliamentary general election to be held on 12 December 2019.
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Image: PA