Passing Legislation: How A Bill Becomes A Law CLN4U

Pre-legislative Stages Where ideas are generated that can be formalized into legislation Where ideas are generated that can be formalized into legislation The gov’t seeks ideas and input from gov’t administrators, individuals, and interest groups The gov’t seeks ideas and input from gov’t administrators, individuals, and interest groups A Cabinet subcommittee evaluates the idea on light of party policy A Cabinet subcommittee evaluates the idea on light of party policy The gov’t presents the proposed idea to the entire cabinet for consideration The gov’t presents the proposed idea to the entire cabinet for consideration Cabinet debates points and recommends changes Cabinet debates points and recommends changes

Pre-legislative Stages Any concerns about the secretive nature ideas are generated in the pre-legislative stages? Any concerns about the secretive nature ideas are generated in the pre-legislative stages? How might this be remedied? How might this be remedied?

Pre-legislative Stages After cabinet debates the bill, policy is usually leaked to the public After cabinet debates the bill, policy is usually leaked to the public Once approved by cabinet, the idea is sent to gov’t by lawyers to draft legal text of the bill Once approved by cabinet, the idea is sent to gov’t by lawyers to draft legal text of the bill Management Board (a.k.a. Treasury Board) considers the financial and human resources necessary to implement the policy and prepares report Management Board (a.k.a. Treasury Board) considers the financial and human resources necessary to implement the policy and prepares report Final bill is presented to cabinet (includes Management Board report and legal text) Final bill is presented to cabinet (includes Management Board report and legal text) After cabinet approval, the bill is presented to Parliament After cabinet approval, the bill is presented to Parliament

The House of Commons First Reading First Reading The bill is read, printed, and distributed The bill is read, printed, and distributed Second Reading Second Reading The principle of the bill is debated and sent to committee for detailed study and to hear presentations by groups and individuals The principle of the bill is debated and sent to committee for detailed study and to hear presentations by groups and individuals Third Reading Third Reading Final debate and vote Final debate and vote

If it passes… It goes to the Senate, who repeat the same process It goes to the Senate, who repeat the same process If it gets Senate approval, it goes to the Governor General If it gets Senate approval, it goes to the Governor General Once signed it becomes law Once signed it becomes law