Alright, so as we enter a new term, we are adjusting the way in which the Houses scrutinizes legislation. This is guide V1.1 primarily because it's something that's surprisingly difficult to explain, even if once you get it it's easy to follow.

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[This post is essentially a quick adaptation of the original post by IndigoRolo](https://www.reddit.com/r/MHOCMeta/comments/7yjgd5/parliamentary_pingpong_proposal_part_3/), although in the spirit of ping-pong, amendments have been made to the original. Go figure.

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#**Commons**

*1st Reading*
The First Reading is the informal stage in which the bill is scheduled on the Master Spreadsheet.

*2nd Reading (2 Days, 2 Days Vote)*
The Second Reading is the first time the bill is posted to /r/MHOC. In this reading, the general principles of the bill are debated - think of it as a debate around the Long Title of the bill, with the general intent of the legislation being the key subject.

An example, to clarify, would be a bill with the long title: "A bill to ban the usage of pineapple as a pizza topping". In the second reading, the debate should focus on the matter of Civil Liberties vs Good Taste, rather than the exact punishment the bill would prescribe.

At the end of this reading, the Commons votes to either send the idea to Committee (Aye), or to Discard the idea outright (No).

*Committee (2 Days Submission, 2 Days Voting on Submissions)*
Once the bill reaches committee, the bill will be posted to the "Committee Stage". All MPs are encouraged to submit amendments to the legislation as they see fit over a two day period, a process which will be familiar to those in the Lords. Non-MPs may also ask MPs to submit amendments on their behalf.

After the Amendment Submission Phase ends, the Amendments Committee (Which has proportional power from each party in relation to the number of seats they have) votes on each amendment.

This creates a bill with amendments, which is sent to a 3rd Reading.

*3rd Reading (2 Days Reading, __4__ Days Vote)*
The third reading is a full debate on the bill as a whole for a final time. The Commons either votes "Aye" to send the bill to the Lords, or "No" to discard the bill.

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#**Lords**

*1st Reading*
The First Reading is the informal stage in which the bill is scheduled on the Master Spreadsheet.

*2nd Reading*
As with the Commons, the Second Reading is the first time the bill is posted to /r/MHOL. The only primary difference is that if the Lords vote to discard the legislation, it returns to the Commons at the Third Reading stage.

*Committee*
The Lord's Committee process is essentially the same as the Commons' Committee, only with each individual Lord voting, rather than a representative of MPs from a party.

*3rd Reading*
The third reading is identical to the Commons' Third Reading. If the Lords vote No, or if they vote Aye with amendments, then the bill is sent to the Commons' Committee Stage once again. If the Lords vote Aye and there have been no successful amendments, then the bill is sent to Royal Assent.

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#**Ping Pong**
Ping Pong is the process which begins when one house sends legislation back to another (either due to rejection, or due to amendments). In short, if one house wishes to amend or reject the bill, the other house can say if they agree or disagree with the proposal by the original house. Since the process can be a bit complex, I will outline a couple of examples.

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####Example - Lords Rejects Unamended
House of Commons passes the "Preservation of Salt Mines Bill". The Lords then rejects it at the Second Reading. The Commons then gets a chance to either agree with the Lords, or disagree.

The Commons in this case disagrees, and passes the Bill again, and this time the Commons is treated as having "Ping"d the bill through. The Lords then once again rejects the bill in the Second Reading - the Lords have "Pong"d the bill back through. Since at this point the bill has been through a whole "Ping Pong" without any change, the Parliament Act kicks in and the bill is passed into law.

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####Example - Lords Rejects Amended, Passed 3rd Reading in Commons
House of Commons passes the "Pineapple on Pizza (Restrictions) Bill". The Lords amend it in their Committee Stage, and send it back to the House of Commons with 3 Amendments (A001, A002, A003).

The bill immediately goes to the Commons Committee. A commons amendment is proposed to edit A002, and no further amendments are proposed. The Committee votes in favour of A001, A002 and the amendment to A002. The Committee votes against A003. The bill then proceeds to a 3rd Reading in the House of Commons.

At the 3rd Reading, the House at large votes in favour of the amended bill, and the amended copy is sent to the Lords. The bill is hence "Ping"d to the Lords, who begins their process again.

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####Example - Lords Rejects Amended, Failed 3rd Reading
House of Commons passes the "Sandwich (Definition) Bill". The Lords amend it in their Committee, and send it back with a single amendment (A001).

The Commons Committee accepts A001, and the bill goes to a third reading. By the time the bill gets to a third reading, however, the Commons has changed their stance on the bill, and votes to reject the bill at the Third Reading. The bill is hence discarded, and as such cannot be resubmitted until the following term.

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I will provide further examples if people feel that they are needed.