In the UK Parliament, a bill going back and forth between the Commons and the Lords until both agree the wording. The US Congressional Research Service uses the same term for amendment exchange.

Bill status

Bill stages compared: UK, US and EU

Last checked 6 November 2026 · 10 sources

Short answer

In the UK Parliament a bill passes first reading, second reading, committee, report and third reading in each House, then any ping pong and Royal Assent ^1,2. In the US Congress a bill is introduced, referred to committee, passed by each chamber in identical form and presented to the President ³. In the EU ordinary legislative procedure the Commission proposes, then Parliament and Council act in up to three readings with a conciliation stage ^4,5.

UK final step: Royal Assent by the Monarch ⁶
US final step: President signs, or a veto is overridden by two thirds of each House ⁷
US President's time to act: Ten days, Sundays excepted ⁷
EU second reading limit: Three months, extendible by one month ⁴
EU conciliation limit: Six weeks to agree a joint text ⁵
EU Parliament absolute majority: 361 out of 720 votes ⁴

UK Parliament

A bill can start in the Commons or the Lords and must be approved in the same form by both Houses before it becomes an Act ⁸. The guide to the passage of a bill lists first reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading in each House, then consideration of amendments and Royal Assent ^1,8.

Second reading is the first chance for MPs to debate the main principles of the bill ². It usually takes place no sooner than two weekends after first reading ². Committee stage is a line-by-line examination, most often in a Public Bill Committee, where every clause is agreed to, changed or removed ⁹. Report stage and third reading follow, and the bill then goes through the same stages in the other House ^1,8.

If the Houses disagree, the bill goes back and forth in ping pong until both agree ¹. Royal Assent turns the bill into an Act ⁶. An Act takes effect from midnight at the start of the day of Royal Assent if no other date or commencement order applies ⁶.

US Congress

Only members of either chamber may introduce legislation ³. In the House, the Speaker refers a bill to every committee with jurisdiction. The Senate usually refers it to the committee handling its main issue ³. A markup ends when the committee agrees, by majority vote, to report the bill ³.

On the House floor most bills go under suspension of the rules, which needs two thirds of Members voting ³. Other bills come under a special rule reported by the House Rules Committee ³. In the Senate, cloture to limit debate needs a supermajority, usually three fifths ³.

The two chambers must agree identical text, by exchanging amendments or through a conference committee ³. Under Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution, a bill not returned by the President within ten days, Sundays excepted, becomes law, save where Congress by adjournment prevents its return ⁷.

EU ordinary legislative procedure

The procedure starts with a Commission proposal, normally for a regulation, directive or decision ⁴. Parliament adopts its first reading position by simple majority. Neither Parliament nor the Council faces a time limit at first reading ⁴.

If the Council takes a different position, each side has three months, extendible by one month, at second reading ⁴. If the Council cannot accept all of Parliament's second reading amendments, a Conciliation Committee is convened within six weeks and has six weeks to agree a joint text ⁵. Parliament and the Council then each have six weeks to adopt the act. Without a joint text, the act is deemed not adopted ⁵.

Stages side by side

Step	UK Parliament	US Congress	EU procedure
Start	First reading in either House ⁸	Introduction by a member ³	Commission proposal ⁴
Detailed review	Committee stage ⁹	Committee hearings and markup ³	Parliament committee report, then plenary vote ⁴
Disagreement	Ping pong between Houses ¹	Amendment exchange or conference committee ³	Conciliation Committee ⁵
Final step	Royal Assent ⁶	Presidential signature or override ⁷	Adoption by Parliament and Council ⁵

Where to track a bill

UK bills are listed on the Parliamentary Bills site with session, originating House, next stage and a last updated time ¹⁰. A bill that runs past the end of a session shows more than one session, for example Sessions 2024-26, 2026-27 ¹⁰. In the EU, the European Parliament describes the procedure step by step on its legislative procedure pages ⁴.

Common questions

Is a bill law once it passes both Houses in the UK?

Not yet. It needs Royal Assent, and some provisions start only when a minister makes a commencement order ⁶.

What happens if the US President does not sign a bill?

If not returned within ten days, Sundays excepted, it becomes law, save where Congress by adjournment prevents its return ⁷.

How many readings does the EU procedure have?

Up to three. Parliament and Council act at first and second reading, then a conciliation joint text must be adopted by both ^4,5.

What is ping pong?

In the UK Parliament, a bill going back and forth between the Commons and the Lords until both agree the wording ¹. The US Congressional Research Service uses the same term for amendment exchange ³.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@statusofrecord.com.

Sources

How to check the current status of a public matter
A five-step method to find the official record for a court case, bill or company, read its latest dated entry and spot what the record leaves out.
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