Guide to the Legislative Process

A Bill is a draft law. Once a Bill has been considered and passed by the Assembly and given Royal Assent by the Monarch, it becomes an ‘Act of the Assembly’. The Assembly is able to pass Acts on any Subject listed in Schedule 7 to the 2006 Act.

Legislation Guidance and Documents

The following links and documents have been provided to give more detailed information about the National Assembly for Wales' Legislative Processes:

The Government of Wales Act 2006 (External website)

Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006

Guide to Bills and Acts

A Bill may be introduced by the Welsh Government, an Assembly Committee, an individual Member or the Assembly Commission. The Assembly procedures relevant to Bills are set out in Standing Order 26.

There is generally a four-stage process for the consideration of a Bill involving:

Stage 1 – consideration of the general principles of the Bill by a committee, and the agreement of those general principles by the Assembly;

Stage 2 – detailed consideration by a committee of the Bill and any amendments tabled to that Bill;

Stage 3 – detailed consideration, by the Assembly, of the Bill and any amendments tabled to that Bill;

Stage 4 – a vote by the Assembly to pass the final text of the Bill.

There is an optional, additional amending stage, called the Report stage, which can take place between stages 3 and 4, if proposed by the Member in Charge and agreed by the Assembly.

Details of all Bills introduced into the Fourth Assembly can be found here.

Ballots for Member Bills

The Presiding Officer must from time to time hold a Ballot to determine the name of a Member, other than a Member of the Government, who may seek agreement to introduce a Member Bill

In order to be eligible for the ballot, Members must table the pre-ballot information required in accordance with Standing Order 26.90.

Current List of Pre-Ballot Proposals

Results of the Ballots

Guide to the Member Bill process

Standing Orders of the National Assembly for Wales