Understanding Parliament: Bills To Laws

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. It is introduced to Parliament for debate, where it must be approved by each House of Parliament before becoming an Act, or law. The process of a bill becoming a law is known as the legislative process, and it involves several stages of reading and debate to ensure that the bill is subject to public debate and scrutiny.

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law

Bills can be categorised as either government bills or private members' bills. A government bill is introduced by a government minister, whereas a private member's bill is brought by a member other than a minister. The process of a bill becoming a law is known as the legislative process. This process involves debate, review, and voting.

During the legislative process, a bill is first introduced in the Senate or the House of Commons by a parliamentarian. It is then debated by parliamentarians, who discuss the main ideas and principles of the bill. After this initial debate, the bill is sent to a committee, which studies it in detail and may suggest changes. The bill then returns for a final debate and vote, based on the committee's report. If the bill passes this final vote, it moves to the other Chamber, where it undergoes the same process.

Once a bill has been passed by both Chambers in identical form, it receives Royal Assent and becomes an Act of Parliament, or law. This involves the assent of the Monarch, or their representative, who signs the bill, officially making it a law.

Bills can be introduced by any member of parliament

A bill is a proposed law that can be introduced to Parliament by any member. It can be a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. Once a bill is introduced, it is debated and then approved by each House of Parliament. After this, it receives Royal Assent and becomes law, or an Act.

Any member of Parliament can introduce a bill. Some bills are based on the agreed-upon government policy and are introduced by ministers. These are known as Government Bills. Other bills are known as Private Members' Bills and are introduced by a member of Parliament who is not a minister or parliamentary secretary.

In the UK, for example, a legislative programme is planned for each session of Parliament, which includes the bills that will be considered. If a government department has a proposal for a bill, it must submit a bid to the Parliamentary Business and Legislation (PBL) Committee of the Cabinet. The PBL Committee will then consider all the bids and make recommendations to the Cabinet about the provisional content of the programme. Once the programme is finalised, it is announced in the King's Speech at the state opening of Parliament.

In Canada, ideas for new laws often begin outside of Parliament. Canadians can indicate what they want to change by signing petitions, meeting with parliamentarians, and sharing their perspectives. Political parties include these ideas in their election platforms, and parliamentarians bring them to Parliament in the form of bills.

Bills are debated and voted on by parliamentarians

Once a bill has been drafted, it is introduced in Parliament by a parliamentarian or a government minister. This is followed by a debate and a vote to decide whether the bill should be studied further. This is the second reading, where parliamentarians debate the main principles of the bill, examining its strengths and weaknesses and discussing its potential impact on different groups of people. After the debate, parliamentarians vote on whether the bill will continue through the process. If the vote supports the bill, it is sent to a committee for a closer look.

At the committee stage, the bill is studied in detail by a smaller group of parliamentarians, who hold hearings where interested individuals and representatives from organisations can comment on the bill. The committee can also invite government officials and experts to answer questions. The committee examines the bill clause by clause and can suggest amendments. The committee's report, including any recommended changes, is then submitted back to the chamber.

The bill then returns to the chamber where it was introduced and is debated again, including any changes proposed by the committee. This is the report stage, where parliamentarians can suggest additional amendments, which may be debated. Once the bill has been finalised, it is ready for a third reading.

During the third reading, parliamentarians debate the final form of the bill and vote to decide if it should be sent to the other chamber. In some cases, amendments may still be made at this stage. If the bill passes the vote, it is sent to the other chamber, where it goes through the same process of debate, review, and voting.

Bills can be amended during the legislative process

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to change an existing law, presented for debate before Parliament. It can be amended during the legislative process, which is designed to ensure that the purpose and effects of the bill are carefully considered and that the public is consulted and informed.

In Canada, for example, after a bill is introduced in either the Senate or the House of Commons, it is sent to a committee that studies it in depth and may suggest changes. The bill then goes back for a final debate and vote, based on the committee's report. If the bill passes the vote, it is sent to the other chamber, where it goes through the same process. During the third reading, parliamentarians can also choose to amend the bill. If a bill is amended in the second house, it must return to the first house for those amendments to be considered. This back-and-forth process is often called "ping pong".

In the United States, once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to it. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on. If it passes one body of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other body, where it may undergo further changes. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions and vote on the same version of the bill.

In the United Kingdom, most bills can begin in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords and must go through several stages before becoming law. During the committee stage, a group of MPs or peers will consider the bill in detail and decide on any amendments. If the bill is amended in the second house, it returns to the first house for those amendments to be considered, and this process may repeat several times until both houses agree on the text.

Bills require assent from the monarch to become law

Royal Assent is typically associated with an elaborate ceremony. In the UK, the Sovereign may appear in person in the House of Lords, or they may appoint Lords Commissioners to announce that Royal Assent has been granted. This ceremony takes place at the Palace of Westminster. However, Royal Assent is usually granted in a less ceremonial manner through letters patent.

The process of receiving Royal Assent varies across different nations. For example, in Canada, the Governor General may grant Royal Assent in person during a ceremony in the Senate or by signing the bill. In Australia, the bill is sent to the Governor's residence, and they sign the bill and notify the Parliament, officially making it a law.

Royal Assent is a crucial step in the legislative process, ensuring that a bill has passed all established parliamentary procedures and received the necessary approvals before becoming law.

Frequently asked questions