Gavin Howe
In Canada, a bill must go through several stages of approval in the House of Commons and the Senate before becoming a law. First, a bill is introduced and given its first reading in either the Senate or the House of Commons, where it is printed and debated. If it passes the first reading, it proceeds to the second reading in the same House, where members debate and vote on the principle of the bill. If it passes the second reading, the bill is then considered by a parliamentary committee, which can amend the bill and summon witnesses and experts to provide information. After the committee stage, the bill returns to the House for a third reading and a final vote. If it passes this stage, the bill goes to the other House, where it must pass through the same stages. Once both Houses have passed the bill in the same wording, it is presented to the Governor General for Royal Assent, which is the final approval needed for the bill to become law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How a bill becomes a law | A bill must be introduced in either the Senate or the House of Commons. |
| The types of bills | Public and private. Public bills relate to public policy and may be sponsored by a Minister (Government bill) or by a private Member (Members' bill). |
| The first House | Can be either the House of Commons or the Senate and is always the House in which the bill was introduced. |
| The second House | If the first House is the House of Commons, then the second House is the Senate and vice versa. |
| The bill's journey through the Houses | The bill must pass through various stages in each House: first, second, and third reading. |
| The Senate's role | The Senate may amend, delay, or refuse to pass bills, although traditionally the Senate passes most bills. |
| Amendments | Any amendments made by the second House must be agreed to by the first House for the bill to become law. |
| Royal Assent | Royal Assent completes the enactment process. Bills may be given Royal Assent by the Governor General or their deputy in a formal ceremony or by written declaration. |
| The law comes into force | Once a bill comes into force, it becomes an act and is published in the Canada Gazette Part III and later in the Statutes of Canada. |
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What You'll Learn
Bills are introduced in the House of Commons or the Senate
The process of a bill becoming a law in Canada begins with its introduction in either the Senate or the House of Commons. Most bills are introduced in the House of Commons, and they can amend or repeal existing laws or contain entirely new laws. There are two types of bills: public and private. Public bills relate to public policy and may be sponsored by a Minister (Government bill) or by a private Member (Member's bill). Private bills, on the other hand, benefit a specific individual or group.
Bills originating in the House of Commons are known as Government bills and are consecutively numbered from C-1 to C-200. If they are introduced first in the Senate, they are numbered starting with S-1. Private Member bills, introduced by Members of Parliament who are not cabinet ministers, are numbered C-201 to C-1000 in the House of Commons and S-201 to S-1000 in the Senate.
Once a bill is introduced in one of the Houses, it undergoes its first reading, where it is printed and presented. During the second reading in the same House, members debate and vote on the principle of the bill. The House may refer the bill to a committee for further consideration and possible amendments. After the committee stage, the House considers any proposed amendments and votes on them. The bill then proceeds to its third reading, and if passed, it moves to the second House, where it goes through the same stages of readings, debates, and votes.
The first House where the bill is introduced is always considered the first House, making the other House the second. For example, if a bill is introduced in the House of Commons first, the Senate becomes the second House and vice versa.
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Bills undergo first, second and third readings
In Canada, a bill must pass through various stages in each House—the first, second, and third readings—before it can become a law. The first reading is a formality whereby the bill is introduced to the House. The bill is then printed in its first reading form, often accompanied by explanatory notes.
During the second reading, members of the House debate and vote on the principle of the bill. At this stage, the House may decide to refer the bill to a legislative, standing, or special committee, or to a Committee of the Whole. The appropriate parliamentary committee then considers the bill in detail, studying it clause by clause. The committee can also summon witnesses and experts to provide information and help improve the bill. After this, the committee reports the bill back to the House, indicating any proposed amendments. The House then considers these amendments and votes for or against them.
Once the bill has been amended, it is debated and voted on again. After the bill has been read three times in the first House, it is sent to the second House (the Senate or the House of Commons, whichever the bill was not introduced in first) for consideration and the same reading process. The Senate may amend, delay, or refuse to pass bills, although traditionally, most bills are passed. Any amendments made by the second House must be agreed to by the first House for the bill to become law.
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Amendments are made by the second House
In Canada, a bill must pass through several stages before becoming a law. The first House can be either the House of Commons or the Senate, and the second House is the other of the two. Once a bill has passed the third reading stage in the first House, it goes to the second House, where it must pass through the same stages.
The second House, or the Senate, may amend, delay, or refuse to pass bills. Traditionally, however, the Senate passes most bills. Amendments made by the second House must be agreed upon by the first House for the bill to become law. Once a bill has been passed in the same form by both Chambers, it goes to the Governor General for Royal Assent.
Royal Assent can be granted in two ways: by the Governor General or their deputy in a formal ceremony that takes place before an assembly of both Houses, or by written declaration. When a bill receives Royal Assent, it becomes law and comes into force. The bill is then given a chapter number for the Statutes of Canada.
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Bills receive Royal Assent
Once a bill has been passed by both the House of Commons and the Senate, it goes to the Governor General for Royal Assent. The Governor General may assent to the Bill in the Queen's name, withhold assent, or reserve assent. When a bill is given Royal Assent, it becomes law and comes into force. This completes the enactment process.
Royal Assent may be given in two ways. One way is through a formal ceremony that takes place in the Senate before an assembly of both houses. The other way is by written declaration, in which case the Act is deemed to be assented to on the day that the two Houses of Parliament are notified of the declaration. Once a bill comes into force, it becomes an Act and is renumbered. The text of the new Act is published in the Canada Gazette Part III and later in the Statutes of Canada.
The Governor General is the representative of the Monarch, who is the Head of State, and is one of the three parts of Parliament that work together to create new laws. The other two parts are the House of Commons and the Senate.
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Bills are assigned a chapter number
In Canada, a bill is a legislative initiative that the Government submits to Parliament for approval and amendment before it becomes law. Once a bill has passed the third reading stage in the first House, it goes to the second House, which can be the Senate or the House of Commons, depending on where the bill was introduced, and must pass through the same stages. If a bill is approved by both Houses in the same form, it is then ready to receive Royal Assent. Royal Assent is the final step in the enactment process and can be granted in two ways: by the Governor General or their deputy in a formal ceremony before an assembly of both Houses, or by written declaration. Once a bill receives Royal Assent, it becomes law and is given a chapter number for the Statutes of Canada.
The numbering of bills depends on the type of bill and the House in which it was introduced. Government bills, which are sponsored by a Minister, are numbered from C-1 to C-200 in order of presentation. If they are introduced first in the Senate, they are numbered starting from S-1. Private member bills, which are introduced by a member of parliament who is not a cabinet minister, are numbered from C-201 to C-1000 if introduced in the House of Commons and S-201 to S-1000 if introduced in the Senate.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill, or proposed law, must first be introduced in either the Senate or the House of Commons.
The bill must pass through various stages in each House: first, second, and third reading. During the first reading, the bill is printed, and members debate and vote on its principle. After the second reading, the bill is considered by the appropriate parliamentary committee, which can suggest amendments. The House then considers and votes on these amendments before the third reading.
Once the bill has been read three times in the first House, it goes to the second House, where it must pass through the same stages. The Senate may amend, delay, or refuse to pass the bill. Any amendments made by the second House must be agreed to by the first House.
The bill is sent to the Governor General for Royal Assent, which is the final approval needed for the bill to become law. The Governor General may assent to the bill in the Queen's name, withhold assent, or reserve assent.
Most bills are introduced in the House of Commons and are sponsored by a Minister (Government bill) or by a private Member (Member's bill). Members of the House or Senate draft, sponsor, and introduce bills for consideration by Congress.
