Skip to main content
Guidance

Amending bills: style manual

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

Updates to this page

From:
Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and Cabinet Office
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.

Documents

Style Manual for Amendments to Bills

PDF, 152 KB, 25 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Style Manual for Amendments to Bills

HTML

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.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Related content