LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE AND

COMMITTEE SYSTEM IN BRITISH

PARLIAMENT

INTRODUCTION

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 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

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

BUDGET

STATEMENT OF

EXPENDITURE STATEMENT OF INCOME

EXPENDITURE TO BE

CHARGED OUT OF

CONSOLIDATED

FUND

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.

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

◦ 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

1. Simple Closure

2. Guillotine Closure

3. Kangaroo Closure

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.

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

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.

References 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.

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