Understanding UK Legislation

A clear guide to different types of laws and how they're created in the UK political system

Types of Legislation

How laws are structured and implemented in the UK

How Laws Are Made

1. Proposal

Laws start as ideas from government, MPs, or public campaigns

2. Parliamentary Scrutiny

Bills are debated and amended in both House of Commons and Lords

3. Royal Assent

Formal approval by the Monarch turns a Bill into an Act of Parliament

Primary vs Secondary Legislation

AspectPrimarySecondary
CreationParliamentGovernment Ministers
Debate TimeExtensiveLimited
AmendmentBy ParliamentBy creating Minister