Amendments are proposed changes to the text of a bill that would alter its meaning.
An amendment should do one of three things:
- leave out words
- replace words with other words [leave out....and insert...]
- add words
You can submit your own amendment or add your name to someone else’s amendment to show your support for it. The Public Bill Office can help you write amendments.
You can also submit a “reasoned amendment” to a bill’s second or third reading. Reasoned amendments are not like other amendments: they don’t propose changes to the text of the bill. Instead, they are essentially motions in which you set out your reasons for not wanting the bill to have a second or third reading.