The legislative process

Green	Green paper	Contains the general proposal
Winged	White paper	More detailed proposal are set out after the initial consultations
Dragons	Draft	The proposals are drafted into a bill by government lawyers and then published
Fly	First reading	The bill is usually introduced to the House of Commons. This merely notifies the House of the bill and its subject matter. There is no debate.
Slowly	Second reading	This is the main debate on the principles of the bill, followed by a vote.
Clockwise	Committee stage	A committee between 16 and 50 MPs examines the details of the bill clause by clause and suggests amendments.
Round	Report stage	The committee reports back these amendments to the House.
The	Third Reading	This usually coincides with the report stage and marks the final debate on the bill in its amended form in the House of Commons.
Old	Other house	The bill passes to the ‘other house’ (House of Lords) for similar procedures, although in the committee stage in the lords the whole House acts as a committee.
Ruin	Royal assent	The Monarch gives approval to the bill. This is a formality and is not undertaken by the Queen personally.

Resources to help you to research the Equality Act 2010 and the Marriage (same sex couples) bill

Equality Act 2010 
The text of the Equality Act 2010



You may be surprised as to what is included in the Equality Act.


The Citizens Advice Bureau publishes guidance as to your rights under the Equality Act, it's worth reading to ensure you know your rights and you know what to do if you think that your rights have been breached. 

 
Marriage (same sex couples) bill 

Information from Parliament about the journey from a bill to an act 

BBC Q&A on gay marriage including the arguments for and against 
Lord Tebbit argues that Gay marriage bill may lead to "lesbian queen and artificially inseminated heir"
Gay couple to sue the Church of England over their refusal to conduct same sex marriages.