LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE AND
COMMITTEE SYSTEM IN BRITISH
PARLIAMENT
INTRODUCTION
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Committees play an important role in the
working of Parliament and because of
their significance, these have become
inseparable part of Parliament. Thomas
Read writes about the importance of the
committees, “Committees are eyes, ears and
hands of legislature and sometimes these
also become brain of the legislatures.”
PROCEDURE OF PASSING
PUBLIC BILL
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1. FIRST READING OF THE BILL:-There are two ways of introducing
Public Bill in the House. By a proposal or through written notice.
2.SECOND READING:-Every member of the house is given a copy of the
bill and member concerned seeks the permission of the House for the
second read of the bill.
3.COMMITTEE STAGE:-The bill is referred to the standing committee and
the minister introducing the bill also is nominated to that committee.
4. REPORT STAGE;-At this stage, the House discusses the report on the
bill submitted by the committee.
5.THIRD READING:- This is the last stage of the bill in the House.
6.BILL IN SECOND HOUSE:-The clerk of the House takes the bill to the
House of Lords. In the House of Lords also, the bill has to pass through the
same stages through which it passed in the House of Commons.
7.ROYAL ASSENT:-After the passages of the ordinary bill by Parliament,
the bill is sent for the approval of the king or Queen.
PASSING OF MONEY BILL
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Money Bill is that bill which is concerned
with-(i) Imposing, decreasing, increasing or
repealing the taxes. (ii) Adding or
withdrawing money from the consolidated
fund (iii) Raising or granting loans by the
Government.
PROCEDURE OF PASSING MONEY
BILL
PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET:
InEngland, the work of the preparation of
the budget usually begins in the month of
October.
TWO PARTS OF THE BUDGET
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BUDGET
STATEMENT OF
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURE TO BE
CHARGED OUT OF
CONSOLIDATED
FUND
STATEMENT OF INCOME
GENERAL
EXPENDITURE
SUPPLY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE:
This meeting of the Parliament begins after the Vote of
Thanks on the Speech from the Throne and whole
House and not the speaker rather the chairman of
the committee presides over the meeting.
 APPROPRIATION BILL:-The demands of expenditure
and the expenditure to be charged out of
consolidated fund are put together into a bill which is
called Appropriation Bill.
 FINANCE BILL:- Provision for imposing taxes or
collecting the taxes are made in the finance bill.
 ROYAL APPROVAL:-King or Queen gives approval
over money bill finally. King/Queen can not exercise
veto power over money bill.
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PROCEDURE OF PASSING PRIVATE BILLS
Private bill is that bill which is concerned with a
particular person or particular institution like
municipal committee, corporation etc.
 Examination of the bill by the examiners of
private bills
 Introduction of Bill or First Reading
 Second reading
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◦ COMMITTEE STAGE:
Regarding Private Bills, the House has two kind of
committee – (i) Committee on Unopposed Bill
 (ii) Private Bill Committee.
METHODS OF CLOSING DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS
Closure
 2. Guillotine Closure
 3. Kangaroo Closure
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1. Simple
COMMITTEE SYSTEM IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT
IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMITTEES
 Committees bring efficiency in work
 They save the time of the House
 Thorough Discussions possible
 Expert knowledge can be acquired
 Members of opposition get proper opportunities to
express their views
 Discussions are above the party politics
 Opportunity to Parliament to exercise control
through committees
 Committees increase the knowledge of the members
TYPES OF COMMITTEES IN THE
BRITISH PARLIAMENT
1.STANDING COMMITTEES:-These are General purpose
committees and these are addressed by the name of A,B,C,D,E.
 There are 3 other standing committees of House
(i)
SCOTISH GRAND COMMITTEE-It includes minimum 10 and at
the most 15 other members.
(ii)
SCOTTISH STANDING COMMITTEE-This committee
includes30members of Parliament elected from Scotland.
(iii)
WALSH GRAND COMMITTEE-It includes 5 other members
besides 36 members elected from Wales.
2.SELECT COMMITTEES:-Select committees are set up to examine
those particular bills underlying some special principles.
3.SESSIONAL SELECT COMMITTEES:-These committees are set up in
the beginning of each session and come to end with the end of
the session.
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Some of the sessions select committees are describes
as below:(i) Selection Committee
(ii)Committee on privileges
(iii) Estimate Committee
(iv) Public Accounts Committee
(v) Standing order Committee
(vi)Committee on Nationalized Industries
(vii) Committee on procedure
(viii) Committee on publication and Debates
(ix) Committee on statutory instruments
(x) Refreshment Committee.
SESSIONAL SELECT COMMITTEES
OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Committee on Standing Orders
 Committee on personal Bills
 Committee on procedure
 Committee on Privileges
 Committee on Leave of Absence
 Selection Committee
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4.PRIVATE BILL COMMITTEE:-These
committee work on quasi-judicial lines.
 5. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
HOUSE:-When the whole house sits as
committee, it is called ‘The Committee of
the Whole House.’
 6.JOINT COMMITTEE:-Joint committee
of the two houses is set up with the
approval of the two houses to consider a
particular subject.
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References
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Dr. S.R. Mahashwari,“Comparative study of Governments and Politics”
Lakshmi Narain Agrawal, 2004
J.S. Badyal, “Comparative Political systems and International Politics” ,Raj
Publishers, 2013.
Dr. Gulshan Rai, S.N. Verma and V.P. Verma, “Comparative Political
systems and International Politics” Joyoti Book Depot Pvt. Ltd. 2008.
K.R. Bombwal, “ Comparative Constitutions”, Modern Publishers, 1978.
J.C. Johari “Modern Political system”, Sterling Publishers, 1972.
J.C. Johari : Major Modern Political Systems, Vishal Publication, Delhi.
J.C. Johari : Comparative Politics, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi.
A.C. Kapoor : Select Constitutions, S. Chand and Company, New Delhi.
V.N. Khanna : Comparative Study of Government and Politics, S. Chand and
Comp.,New Delhi.
Vishnu Bhagwanand Vidya Bhushan: World Constitutions, Sterling Publisher,
New Delhi.