Foreword

PDF version of Guidance on Public Bills (229KB pdf posted 20.06.2007)

Part 1: Public Bills

Introduction
Devolution and the limits of legislative competence
The Scotland Act and Standing Orders
Structure and style of Bills

Part 2: Stages of Bills – the general rules

Executive Bills – preparation for introduction
Accompanying and other documents
Introduction of the Bill
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Reconsideration Stage
From Bill to Act
Financial Resolutions
Withdrawal of Bills

Part 3: Stages of Bills – the special rules

Members’ Bills
Committee Bills
Budget Bills
Consolidation Bills, Codification Bills, Statute Law Repeals Bills and Statute Law
   Revision Bills
Emergency Bills

Part 4: Amendments

Basic principles
Admissibility of amendments
Lodging amendments
Daily lists and Marshalled Lists
Grouping of amendments
Selection of amendments
Proceedings on amendments – all Stages
Proceedings on amendments – Stage 2
Proceedings on amendments – Stage 3

Annex A: Form and content of Bills

Determination on “proper form”
Recommendations on the content of Bills

Annex B: Structure and drafting of Bills

Common features of drafting
Standard provisions in Bills

Annex C: Form of amendments

Determination on form of amendments

Annex D: Proposals for Members’ and Committee Bills (18KB pdf)

Annex E: Stages in the passage of a Public Bill (19KB pdf)

Annex F: Illustration of the principal components of a Bill (26KB pdf)