Who rules //
Private Members' Bills
Individual MPs are sometimes called private members. They are allowed to introduce their own proposals for new laws that aren't necessarily supported or planned by the government. These are called Private Members' Bills. However, MPs can't just print off copies of their proposals and use up months of Parliament's time holding debates about their ideas. Instead there are three types of Private Members' Bill: the balloted bill, the ten minute rule and the presentation bill. What do they mean? Which is the one most likely to end as an Act of Parliament?
The balloted bill
Every year there's a vote in Parliament to choose 20 MPs who will be allowed to introduce their proposal for a new law. The seven MPs at the top of the list are allocated time in the House of Commons for their bill to be discussed and debated. If the House of Commons approves it, it could go through the whole law-making process and become a real law.
The ten minute rule
Ten minutes isn't very long when you're trying to convince 659 MPs that your proposal for a law is a good one. It means what it says. The MP has ten minutes to talk in favour of the proposal they've put forward. Once the ten minutes is up, that's it. No debate, no discussion. Time's up. Not much chance of any law-making here then.
The presentation bill
If you thought that ten minutes to speak in favour wasn't very long, just wait until you hear this one. The MP gets to present the idea and then... that's it. The MP can't put forward any arguments in favour and say why their proposal is a good idea. Absolutely no chance! What's the point then? The MP gets to raise awareness of an issue. You never know, someone else in the government might catch on to it.
Key Points
- Private Members' Bills give MPs a chance to introduce new laws.
- There are three types of Private Members' Bills.
- The best chance of getting a new law made is through a balloted bill.
- Ordinary people can influence MPs to make changes that are of interest to them.
Reality Bytes: What's this got to do with me?
If you and a group of friends felt really strongly about something going on you might decide to go to your local MP. Your MP might not be able to do much about it to start with, so you might decide to form a group of people who campaign to get other MPs and the government to do something about the problem. You could send out leaflets and letters about your cause.
This is called lobbying – you are raising awareness of an issue that matters to you. This could lead to an MP or group of MPs to listen to what you have to say and put up a Private Members' Bill.
Interesting Facts
- The law that made abortion legal in the UK (Northern Ireland excepted) was a Private Members' Bill. It was passed in 1967.
- Peter Luff, MP for Mid Worcestershire, introduced a Private Members Bill in 1996 to issue age restrictions on teenage magazines. He thought that the content of such magazines was too sexual. The Bill was not passed.
- Current Private Members Bills are available to view on the Parliament website.
Big Question
- Private Members Bills often reflect the views of MPs' constituents. Do you think that more time needs to be given to Private Members Bills so that the public's views can be aired?
