The Journey Of A Bill To Becoming A Law

The process of a bill becoming a law involves several stages of reading and voting, and differs according to the political system in question. In the US, for example, a bill may be introduced by any member of either house, but it must be passed by both houses to become law. In the UK, a bill typically goes through seven stages of the legislative process, including readings, committee stages, and report stages, before receiving royal assent. In India, a bill goes through first, second, and third readings, during which it is discussed, voted on, and amended. In Australia, a bill is automatically read a first time without any question, whereas in the Australian Senate, a vote on the first reading is always taken immediately after introduction.

A bill is a proposal for a new law

The word "bill" is predominantly used in English-speaking nations that were formerly part of the British Empire and whose legal systems are based on UK common law, such as the United States. In civil law systems, such as those in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Portugal, a proposed law is known as a "law project" or "proposition".

Bills typically include titles, enacting provisions, statements of intent, definitions, substantive provisions, transitional clauses, and dates on which the bill will take effect. The preparation of a bill may involve the production of a draft bill before it is introduced in the legislature. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, these draft bills are often confidential.

Bills can be introduced by members of the legislature or by the executive (government). In the US system, all bills must originate from the legislature. Once introduced, a bill will go through several stages of reading and voting before it can become a law. The specific process can vary depending on the country and the type of legislature.

In the Westminster system, for example, there are generally three readings of a bill. During the first reading, the bill is introduced and its title is read, but there is minimal discussion or voting. The second reading involves a more detailed presentation of the bill, followed by discussions and debates. The third reading includes all amendments to the bill and gives final approval by the legislative body.

In the US, the process can vary between the House of Representatives and the Senate, but it generally involves committee consideration, readings, debates, and votes. After passing both houses, a bill may require approval by the head of state, such as the monarch, president, or governor, to become a law.

A bill must be passed by the legislature

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. A bill is introduced in the legislature, where it is discussed, debated, and voted upon. A bill must be passed by the legislature to become law.

In the United States, all bills originating in the House of Representatives are prefixed with "H.R.", while those originating from the Senate begin with an "S.". In the Westminster system, where the executive is drawn from the legislature, most bills are introduced by the executive (government bill). In the US system, where the executive is formally separated from the legislature, all bills must originate from the legislature.

A bill typically goes through several stages of reading and approval in each house of the legislature. In the Westminster system, there are generally three readings of a bill as it passes through the stages of becoming, or failing to become, legislation. In the United States, there are also readings of a bill, which may include a first reading where the title of the bill is read, and a second reading where the bill is considered in more detail.

After the readings, the bill is sent to a committee for review and may undergo amendments. In the United States, each bill goes through several stages in each house, including consideration by a committee, which often seeks input from relevant departments and requests feedback from the Government Accountability Office. The bill may then be debated and amended on the floor of the full house. Once a bill is approved by one house, it is sent to the other, which may pass, reject, or amend it.

For a bill to become law, both houses of the legislature must agree to identical versions of the bill. If amendments are made, the differences must be reconciled in a conference committee, which includes both senators and representatives. If both houses agree to the reconciled version, the bill passes; otherwise, it fails.

Once a bill is passed by both houses, it is sent to the head of state, such as the monarch, president, or governor, for approval. In some cases, a bill may also require approval by a constitutional court or a referendum. If the bill receives all the necessary approvals, it becomes law and is promulgated, such as through royal assent or signing by the president.

Bills are introduced and discussed in the legislature

The second reading is when a draft of a bill is read a second time. In most Westminster-style legislatures, a vote is taken on the general outlines of the bill before being sent to a committee. In the United States Senate and most British-influenced legislatures, the committee consideration occurs between the second and third readings. The bill is then shaped in more detail, and amendments may be brought.

The third reading is when a bill is read with all amendments and given final approval by a legislative body. In legislatures following the Westminster system, the third reading occurs after the bill has been amended by a committee and considered for further amendment at the report stage.

In bicameral legislatures, a bill must pass the third reading in both chambers separately. Once this happens, it is sent for promulgation, such as royal assent in the Westminster system or signing by the president or governor in the US model.

Once passed, a bill becomes an act of the legislature

Once a bill has been passed by the legislature, it becomes an act of the legislature or a statute. This is the stage at which a proposal for a new law or a substantial alteration to an existing law is enacted into law. The process of a bill becoming law may be termed enactment.

Once a bill is passed by the legislature, it may automatically become law, or it may need further approval. In most cases, bills passed by the legislature require the approval of the head of state, such as the monarch, president, or governor, to become law. In some jurisdictions, a bill may also require approval by a constitutional court. If the court finds that the bill would violate the constitution, it may annul it or send it back to the legislature for correction. In other cases, a bill may require approval by referendum.

In parliamentary systems, approval of the head of state is normally a formality as the head of state is a ceremonial figurehead. However, in presidential systems, the head of state is also the chief executive, and the need to receive approval can be used as a political tool. The legislature can override a veto by the head of state with a supermajority vote, although this requires a higher threshold than a simple majority.

Once a bill becomes law, it may come into force immediately, or it may specify a later date to come into force. An act is typically promulgated by being published in an official gazette.

Bills are assigned numbers as they progress

In the United Kingdom, a bill may have multiple numbers as it moves through the legislative process. For example, the Coroners and Justice Act of 2009 began as Bill 9 in the House of Commons, then became Bill 72 when it was considered by a public bill committee, and so on. The UK Parliament recommences numbering from one at the beginning of each session, which usually lasts a year.

In Brazil, bills are numbered sequentially, prefixed with "PL" (Projeto de Lei) and optionally suffixed with the year they were proposed, separated by a slash. For example, "PL 1234/1988". Before 2019, the numbering system was different in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, but it was unified by a joint act of the secretaries of both houses.

In Canada, the numbering system varies between the House of Commons and the Senate. In the House of Commons, the pro forma bill is numbered C-1, government bills are numbered C-2 to C-200, and private members' bills are numbered C-201 to C-1000. In the Senate, the numbering is the same, except that bills first introduced in the Senate begin with "S" instead of "C".

In Australia, bills are not given numbers and are typically cited by their short titles. They only receive an act number upon royal assent.

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