Guidance

Amending bills: style manual

This guidance, for members of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC), explains how to draft amendments to bills.

From:
Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and Cabinet Office
Published
29 April 2015
Last updated
11 March 2024 — See all updates

Documents

Style Manual for Amendments to Bills

PDF, 152 KB, 25 pages

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Style Manual for Amendments to Bills

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Details

This document provides guidance about drafting amendments to bills being debated by Parliament. The guidance was produced by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) for its members.

Bill are proposals for new laws, or for changes to existing laws, that are presented for Parliament to debate.

Updates to this page

Published 29 April 2015
Last updated 11 March 2024 + show all updates

  1. The pamphlet has been updated to reflect the move to OPC’s new drafting software (Lawmaker). Paragraphs 1.21 and 1.22 reflect the fact that explanatory statements to amendments are now used in both the Commons and the Lords. Paragraph 2.35 has been redrafted to provide a fuller explanation of how the marshalling process can affect the drafting of amendments. Paragraphs 3.6 and 3.14 have been amended to clarify how amendments to leave out definitions should be drafted. Paragraphs 7.5 and 8.2 have been updated to reflect the new style adopted by the Commons for amendments moving text or splitting clauses.

  2. Updated the style manual.

  3. Updated the style manual.

  4. First published.

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