Eleanor Finch
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. Bills are introduced in the legislature, where they are discussed, debated, and voted upon. Once a bill has been enacted into law by the legislature, it is called an act of the legislature, or a statute. Bills generally include titles, enacting provisions, statements of intent, definitions, substantive provisions, transitional clauses, and dates on which the bill will be put into effect. There are three types of bills: Public, Private, and Hybrid. In the United States, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and outlines the powers and structure of the federal government. It consists of the original document, which was ratified in 1788, and several amendments, including the Bill of Rights, which were added to protect individual rights from abridgement by the federal government.
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What You'll Learn
The process of creating a bill
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. The process of creating a bill involves several steps and can vary slightly between different legislative systems. Here is an overview of the typical process of creating a bill:
The process typically begins with a bill being introduced in the legislature, where it is discussed, debated, and voted upon. In the United States, a bill is usually sponsored by a Representative, who introduces it to the House of Representatives. In the United Kingdom, bills can be introduced in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
Committee Assignment and Study
Once introduced, the bill is assigned to a committee for study and review. Committees play a crucial role in scrutinizing and amending bills before they move forward in the legislative process. Committees may send the bill to specialized subcommittees for further hearings, revisions, and approval. This stage often involves public hearings where witnesses representing various viewpoints on the bill are heard.
Voting and Amendments
After the committee stage, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on by the full House or legislature. During this stage, amendments may be offered, and the bill can be debated and amended further. If the bill passes by a simple majority, it then moves to the upper house or the Senate.
Senate Consideration and Concurrence
In the Senate, the bill undergoes a similar process. It is assigned to another committee, debated, and voted on. If the Senate makes changes to the bill, it must return to the lower house for concurrence, where members review and vote on the amended bill.
Final Approval and Executive Assent
Once the bill passes both houses of the legislature, any differences between the two versions must be reconciled, and the resulting bill returns to both houses for final approval. In some countries, like the United Kingdom, the bill is then presented to the reigning monarch (a process known as Royal Assent) to become an Act of Parliament and attain the force of law. In other countries, such as the United States, the bill is sent to the President, who has the power to veto or sign the bill into law.
Implementation and Promulgation
After receiving final approval and assent, the bill becomes a law or an act of the legislature. The enactment of a bill into law may be immediate or may be specified for a later date. The implementation of the law may be carried out by a designated authority, as outlined in the bill. In some countries, an act is promulgated by being published in an official gazette.
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The number of readings
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. Bills are introduced in the legislature, where they are discussed, debated, and voted upon. Once a bill has been enacted into law by the legislature, it is called an act of the legislature, or a statute.
In India, a bill must go through various stages to become a law. Similar to the UK, the first reading involves the minister taking leave from the house and introducing the title and objectives of the bill. The bill is then published in the Gazette of India. The second reading involves a 'stage of general discussion' and a 'committee stage'. During the third reading, the bill is voted upon, and if passed, it is sent to the President for assent. If the President gives assent, the bill is published in the Gazette of India and becomes an Act from the date of his assent. If the President withholds assent, the bill is dropped, which is known as a pocket veto.
In territories with a multicameral parliament, most bills may be first introduced in any chamber. However, certain types of legislation are required, either by constitutional convention or by law, to be introduced into a specific chamber. For example, bills imposing a tax or involving public expenditure are introduced into the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, Canada's House of Commons, Lok Sabha of India, and Ireland's Dáil. Conversely, bills proposed by the Law Commission and consolidation bills traditionally start in the House of Lords. Once introduced, a bill must go through a number of stages before it can become law.
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How bills become law
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. Bills are introduced in the legislature, where they are discussed, debated, and voted upon. The process of a bill becoming a law can vary depending on the country.
In the United States, the idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, be proposed during their election campaign, or be petitioned by citizen groups. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other body. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, the bill is sent to the President. The President can approve the bill and sign it into law, or they can refuse to approve it, which is called a veto. If the President vetoes a bill, in most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto, and the bill becomes a law. However, if the President does not sign off on a bill and Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default, known as a "pocket veto," which cannot be overridden.
In the United Kingdom, there are three types of bills: Public, Private, and Hybrid Bills. Bills are introduced in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords for examination, discussion, and amendment. When both Houses have agreed on the content of a Bill, it is presented to the reigning monarch for approval, known as Royal Assent. Once Royal Assent is given, a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is law. Money Bills (Bills designed to raise money through taxes or spend public money) must receive Royal Assent no later than a month after being introduced in the Lords, even without their approval. Most other Commons Bills can be delayed by the Lords for up to a year, but the House of Commons can ultimately pass them without the Lords' consent.
In India, a bill goes through a "first reading," where the minister introduces the title and objectives of the bill, followed by a "second reading," where the bill receives its final shape. The bill then goes through a stage of general discussion and detailed scrutiny by a committee.
In some countries, bills may require approval by referendum. For example, in Ireland, this is obligatory for bills to amend the constitution. An act may come into force as soon as it becomes law or may specify a later date or the person/entity by whom and how it will be brought into force. Legislatures may give bills numbers as they progress, and an act is typically promulgated by being published in an official gazette.
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Types of bills
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. It is discussed, debated, and voted upon in the legislature. Once a bill has been enacted into law by the legislature, it is called an act of the legislature or a statute. The word "bill" is commonly used in English-speaking nations that were formerly part of the British Empire and whose legal systems originated in the common law of the United Kingdom, including the United States.
In the United Kingdom, there are three different types of bills: Public, Private, and Hybrid. Public Bills pertain to matters that affect the general public or classes of citizens. Private Bills, on the other hand, affect specific individuals or organizations and are often related to immigration, granting citizenship, or providing benefits to specified individuals. Hybrid Bills have characteristics of both Public and Private Bills. Additionally, there is a type of Public Bill called Private Members' Bills.
In the context of the United States Senate, there are several types of legislation beyond the standard bills. These include Simple Resolutions, designated as H.Res. or S.Res., which address matters within the prerogative of a single house, such as revising rules or expressing sentiments. Simple resolutions do not require approval from the other house or the president and do not carry the force of law. Joint Resolutions, denoted as H.J. Res. or S.J. Res., are similar to bills in that they require approval from both chambers and the president's signature to become law. They are used for continuing or emergency appropriations and proposing constitutional amendments. Concurrent Resolutions, or H.Con.Res. or S.Con.Res., must be passed by both houses but do not require presidential approval or carry the force of law. They are used for the annual congressional budget resolution.
In some countries, bills may require approval by referendum, especially for amending the constitution. A bill may specify when it will come into force, and it is typically promulgated by being published in an official gazette. Bills generally include titles, enacting provisions, statements of intent, definitions, substantive provisions, transitional clauses, and implementation dates.
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Bills and the constitution
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. Bills are introduced in the legislature, where they are discussed, debated, and voted upon. Once a bill has been enacted into law by the legislature, it is called an act of the legislature, or a statute. In the United Kingdom, for example, a bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is law when it receives Royal Assent.
In territories with a multicameral parliament, most bills may be first introduced in any chamber. However, certain types of legislation are required, either by constitutional convention or by law, to be introduced into a specific chamber. For example, bills imposing a tax or involving public expenditure are introduced into the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, Canada's House of Commons, Lok Sabha of India, and Ireland's Dáil as a matter of law. Conversely, bills proposed by the Law Commission and consolidation bills traditionally start in the House of Lords.
In the United States, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any bill passed by Congress must be consistent with it. The Constitution sets out the framework for the US government and the rights of its citizens. For example, the Constitution grants Congress the power to enforce the right of citizens aged 18 or older to vote. It also includes provisions such as the requirement for Congress to assemble at least once a year and the prohibition on suspending the Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, except in cases of rebellion or invasion.
In India, for a law to be made, it starts as a bill and goes through various stages. There is a ""first reading" of the bill where the minister introduces the title and objectives, followed by a "second reading" where the bill receives its final shape. The bill is then published in the Gazette of India before facing further scrutiny and debate.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. Bills are introduced in the legislature and are discussed, debated, and voted upon. Once a bill has been enacted into law by the legislature, it is called an act of the legislature, or a statute.
There are three types of bills: Public, Private, and Hybrid Bills. There is also another kind of Public Bill called a Private Member's Bill.
Bills are generally considered through a number of readings. This refers to the historic practice of the clerical officers of the legislature reading the contents of a bill to the legislature. Bills generally include titles, enacting provisions, statements of intent, definitions, substantive provisions, transitional clauses, and dates the bill will be put into effect. Once both Houses have agreed on the content of a bill, it is presented to the reigning monarch for approval, known as Royal Assent. Once Royal Assent is given, a bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is law.
A bill is a draft piece of legislation, whereas an act is when the bill has been passed by Parliament and becomes law. The parts of a bill are known as clauses, and once it becomes an act of parliament, the parts of the law are known as sections.
