The UK Parliament [official website] passed the Brexit bill [text] on Monday after the House of Commons [official website] voted [BBC report] 273 to 135 to overturn suggested amendments to the bill and sent the bill back to the House of Lords [official website]. In response to the vote overturning the Lords’ suggested amendments, those opposed to the bill over EU residency rights backed down. The House of Lords then proceeded to vote [BBC report] not to challenge the House of Commons on a Brexit veto or fight EU residency status. The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent and become law Tuesday. Now that the bill has passed, Prime Minister Theresa May [official website] can initiate talks for the UK to withdraw from the EU These talks are expected to occur at the end of March and will start a two-year withdrawal process.

The past few weeks have seen debate and interest regarding the Brexit vote as uncertainty about when and how the UK should leave the EU has been widespread. The House of Commons approved [JURIST report] the bill without the amendment in early February. In response the House of Lords passed amendments [JURIST report] giving parliament the ability to approve negotiations of the UK’s exit. Also last week, judges for the UK High Court dismissed a suit [JURIST report] that claimed members of parliament should be allowed to vote on whether Britain will leave the European Economic Area. A majority of UK voters expressed their desire to leave the EU [JURIST report] in June, leading to the resignation of former prime minster David Cameron.