Motion types

Motion types

• First stage
• Second stage
• Third stage
• Ten minute rule
• Programme
• Closure
• Amendment
• Reasoned amendment
• Lords amendment
• Committee clause
• Add clause to bill
• Timetable change
• Adjournment
• Humble address
• Government agenda
• Financial
• Confidence
• Standing order change
• Private sitting
• Reasons committee
• EU document scrutiny
• Other

We group motions into common categories – this page describes the role they play in shaping internal and external parliamentary action.

First stage

This is the first stage/reading of a draft law.

It will introduce the topic area, but not the full details of the bill.

Second stage

This is the second stage/reading of a draft law.

It introduces a complete bill that may be subject to future amendment.

If this passes, in the House of Commons it will proceed to a committee stage.

Third stage

This is the third stage/reading of a draft law.

The chamber confirms the final text of the bill, and it will proceed to the Lords if it is a Commons bill (or to the Commons if it starts as a Lords bill).

Ten minute rule

A Ten Minute Rule motion is a way for MPs to propose a law by making a brief speech of up to ten minutes in support of it.

In practice, even when these pass they are unlikely to be given time in the schedule to become legislation.

Programme

A programme motion sets out the timetable and time available for a bill to be debated.

Closure

Motion to stop debate and move to a vote on the main issue.

Amendment

An amendment is a change to the text of a motion or bill.

Reasoned amendment

A reasoned amendment is an attempt to convert ‘this bill has passed the second stage’ motions into ‘this bill should not pass because reason a,b,c’.

This opposition amendment will rarely if ever passed – but is the framing for the opposition’s final critique of the bill at this stage.

Lords amendment

This is a vote to accept or reject a change made by the House of Lords to a bill.

Committee clause

This is a vote to approve a clause in a bill.

Add clause to bill

This is a vote to approve adding a clause to a bill.

Timetable change

This is a vote to change the order of business in the chamber.

Adjournment

This is a vote to end the day’s business.

Adjournment debates are usually used as a mechanism to have a debate on a topic without a vote.

Humble address

This is used as a way of Parliament compelling the government to release information.

Government agenda

This is a vote on the government’s agenda (monarch’s speech).

Financial

This is a vote on a financial instrument.

Confidence

This is a vote of confidence in the government.

Standing order change

This is a vote to change the rules of the chamber.

Private sitting

This is a vote to sit in private.

Generally this is not a real vote about sitting in private, but because it is a vote that can be called by any MP, it can be used to end a low participation debate.

Calling for the vote leads to a check if there are more than 40 MPs present, and if not, proceedings end.

However, it can also only be called once a day, so sometimes people in favour of a debate will call for this vote earlier when there are more people around. This prevents it being used to close debate later on.

Reasons committee

Where a Lords amendment has been rejected without an alternative, a committee is assigned to draw up a reason for each disagreement to return to the Lords.

EU document scrutiny

Now historical, but a vote recognising an EU document in Parliament was a requirement before a minister could support in council.

Other

This is a vote that doesn’t fit into any current category.