text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  European Union Bill (Second Reading)
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  <p pid="a.191.4/1">I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.</p>
  
  <p pid="a.191.4/2">In the past 25 years, the EU has changed many times, each change marked by a new treaty: the Single European Act, the Maastricht treaty, the Amsterdam and Nice treaties, the failed EU constitution and its modified successor, the Lisbon treaty. As a result, the EU now has a greatly enlarged place in our national life, policy and politics. At the same time, we have seen a growing disconnection between the people who put us here in Parliament-the British people, the voters-and the EU's institutions. There is a growing sense, shown by falling turnout in European elections and a variety of surveys, that the EU's democratic legitimacy in this country has been weakened.</p>
  
  <p pid="a.205.1/1">I beg to move an amendment, to leave out from "That" to the end of the Question and add:</p>
  
  <blockquote>"this House declines to give a second reading to the European Union Bill on the grounds that, while the principle of referendums on significant constitutional and monetary changes is appropriate, the Bill is a flawed measure which would confuse the important issues at stake and make vital constitutional issues justiciable by the courts rather than resolved under the sovereignty of Parliament."</blockquote>
  
  <p pid="a.273.4/1"><i> Question put,</i> That the amendment be made.</p>
  
  <p pid="a.273.4/2"><i> The House divided:</i> Ayes 195, Noes 330.</p>
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  