text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  European Union Bill - Report (1st Day) - Clause 2 - Treaties amending or replacing TEU or TFEU
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @ MP voted aye to allow a Parliamentary committee to deny a referendum following the passing of an Act approving the transfer of powers from the UK to the EU.
  @ MP voted no for a referendum following the passing of an Act approving the transfer of powers from the UK to the EU; and against allowing a Parliamentary Committee to deny such a referendum. 
  
  The majority of Lords voted against giving a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament the power to decide if a referendum was required following Parliamentary agreement to transfer more powers to the European Union. The Bill as it stood, and as it remained following this vote, allowed an exemption from a referendum only if a Bill amending an EU treaty states the conditions for a referendum set out in Section 4 of the European Union Bill were not met. 
  
  Those Lords voting "Content" were opening the possibility of not having a referendum following the passing of an Act approving the transfer of powers from the UK to the EU. 
  
  The majority of Not-Contents voted not to add the following text to Clause 2 of the European Union Bill:
  
  after "that" insert- "(a) a referendum does not need to be held in accordance with section (Process for determining the necessity of referendums); or
  (b) "
  
  This vote then leaves this text in Clause 2 as stands: 
  âThe exemption condition is that the Act providing for the approval of the treaty states that the treaty does not fall within section 4.â
  
  Clause 2[1] sets out what will happen should any changes or replacement be made to the TEU[2] and TFEU[3]. A statement explaining this treaty would need to be given to Parliament, an Act of Parliament and a referendum would also be required, unless a condition is met that means a referendum is not necessary. This vote was regarding changes to the wording explaining this exception condition. 
  
  * [1] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/106/2011106.pdf European Union Bill â including Clause 2]
  
  * [2] [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:115:0001:01:EN:HTML Treaty on European Union]
  
  * [3] [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:115:0047:0199:EN:PDF Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union] 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  