Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Government Amendment
An amendment proposed by the government to change a bill or motion.
Government Bill
A bill introduced by the Government rather than by an individual MP or peer.
Government Defeat
A vote result in which the government loses a division or fails to secure approval for its position.
Government Response
The formal reply the government gives to a committee report or recommendation.
Grand Committee
A Lords committee setting where legislation or other business can be debated in detail without formal votes.
Green Paper
A government discussion document setting out ideas for consultation before firm policy decisions are made.
Gross Domestic Product
Abbreviation: GDP
A measure of the total value of goods and services produced in an economy.
Guillotine Motion
An older term for a motion imposing strict time limits on debate.