What is a 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 monarch for approval (known as Royal Assent).
Once Royal Assent is given, a bill becomes an act of Parliament and is law.
Find out more about bill and act papers.
Format of a bill
Each bill has a short title and a long title. The short title is the name by which it is usually known, for example the Bus Services Bill. The long title describes what the bill does, for example “A bill to make provision about local and school bus services; and for connected purposes.” The long title is followed by enacting words, which are a formal statement that the bill will be a law, starting “Be it enacted…”.
Each bill is divided up into individual clauses which can be debated separately in Parliament. Any clause can be removed or amended - and new clauses may be added - before a bill is passed. If a bill becomes an act of Parliament, the clauses become the sections of the act.
The details of how particular clauses will work in practice is provided in the schedules, which can be found at the end of the bill.
Types of bills
There are three different types of bill: public, private and hybrid bills.
Who can introduce a bill?
Bills are primarily introduced by the government or by individual MPs or Lords. A few bills (hybrid bills or private bills) may be introduced by private individuals and organisations.
Bills introduced by individual backbench MPs or Lords are called private members’ bills. Private member’s bills are a type of public bill.
Learn more about private members' bills.