Wednesday, April 17, 2024 9:08 PM
What is a bill?
- Parliament is multi-functional - one of its part is to debate and pass statutes - these are
identified as primary legislation.
• What is a bill?
- A bill is a draft act of parliament that is possible of being introduced in either the HOC or the
HOL for examination, discussion, and amendment.
- A bill is a proposal for fresh law.
- It is possible for a bill to be a proposal to amend an existing law.
- The government introduces most of bills; however, it is possible for the private members' bills
to be introduced by individual MP's or peers.
- Once the content of the bill have been agreed upon by both houses, the bill is presented to the
monarch for the royal assent after which the bill turns into an act and is then law.
• Different types of bills:
- Money bill: A money bill is a bill that is related merely with national taxation, public money, or
loans.
- Public bill: Any bill relating the rights and duties of the general population -e.g. change to the
speed limit on the motorway. Money bills are also named as public bill's as they influence the
rights of the public. Most of the public bills are proposed by the government ministers.
- Private Members’ Bills: bills that are introduced by MP's or peers other than government
ministers.
Pre-legislative scrutiny:
- The thorough examination of an early draft of a bill that is completed by a Parliamentary Select
Committee.
- What is a draft bill? A draft bill is introduced for consultation to committee's prior to the formal
introduction to parliament - this entitles amendments to be made to the draft bill before it is
formally parliament - most of the draft bills are government bills.
• The aim of pre-legislative scrutiny is to:
- To improve legislation
- To lessen the need for subsequent changing of legislation
- Formerly, for the examination of a draft bill a select committee was particularly appointed now
it is more usual to use establish a joint committee.
- The better the pre-legislative scrutiny, the better the legislation turns to be.
The legislative process in the HOC vs the HOL:
• The legislative process in the HOC:
- First reading:
A formality where the introduction of the bill to the house is done.
- Second reading:
This is where the debates on main principles of the bill occur for the first time such as what are
Legislation Page 1
What is a bill?
- Parliament is multi-functional - one of its part is to debate and pass statutes - these are
identified as primary legislation.
• What is a bill?
- A bill is a draft act of parliament that is possible of being introduced in either the HOC or the
HOL for examination, discussion, and amendment.
- A bill is a proposal for fresh law.
- It is possible for a bill to be a proposal to amend an existing law.
- The government introduces most of bills; however, it is possible for the private members' bills
to be introduced by individual MP's or peers.
- Once the content of the bill have been agreed upon by both houses, the bill is presented to the
monarch for the royal assent after which the bill turns into an act and is then law.
• Different types of bills:
- Money bill: A money bill is a bill that is related merely with national taxation, public money, or
loans.
- Public bill: Any bill relating the rights and duties of the general population -e.g. change to the
speed limit on the motorway. Money bills are also named as public bill's as they influence the
rights of the public. Most of the public bills are proposed by the government ministers.
- Private Members’ Bills: bills that are introduced by MP's or peers other than government
ministers.
Pre-legislative scrutiny:
- The thorough examination of an early draft of a bill that is completed by a Parliamentary Select
Committee.
- What is a draft bill? A draft bill is introduced for consultation to committee's prior to the formal
introduction to parliament - this entitles amendments to be made to the draft bill before it is
formally parliament - most of the draft bills are government bills.
• The aim of pre-legislative scrutiny is to:
- To improve legislation
- To lessen the need for subsequent changing of legislation
- Formerly, for the examination of a draft bill a select committee was particularly appointed now
it is more usual to use establish a joint committee.
- The better the pre-legislative scrutiny, the better the legislation turns to be.
The legislative process in the HOC vs the HOL:
• The legislative process in the HOC:
- First reading:
A formality where the introduction of the bill to the house is done.
- Second reading:
This is where the debates on main principles of the bill occur for the first time such as what are
Legislation Page 1
