1. Passing Legislation Recap from Yesterday
How a bill becomes a Law – Federal
Passing a Law in the US
How a bill becomes a Law – Provincial
Laws at the Municipal Level
Developing Policy
To do – review questions

2. Recap from Yesterday
Try to answer the following questions without the use of your notes.
What are the 3 branches of government and what role do each of them play?
What are cabinet ministers? What is their role and how do they get their job?
What is the role of the Governor General?
Bonus Question – who is our current governor general?
Name 3 different people in the House of Commons and describe their role in the House

3. How a Bill becomes a Law at the Federal Level
First Reading
Bill is read for the first time and printed
Second Reading
MPs debate the bill’s strengths and weaknesses
Public debate begins examining values and politics of the bill
Committee
Group involving members from opposing parties study details of bill
Public Hearings
Bill is changed/improved

4. The Senate Royal Assent
Third Reading
MPs debate and vote on the bill
Bill Changed
Bill Passed
The Senate
Bill receives 3 readings
Bill is changed/passed
Senate cant stop a bill but they can slow it down
Bill is Defeated
Bill dies and does not become law
Royal Assent
Bill passed by both houses
The Queen/GG signs the bill
Bill becomes law

5. Creating a Law in the US
Watch the following video clip: This explains how the process works in the US.
While watching the video replace:
Congressman with MP
House of Representatives with House of Commons
President with Queen/Governor General
How does this process compare to the process in Canada? Explain the similarities and differences.

6. Passing a Bill at the Provincial Level
Creating a Law at the provincial level is very similar to that at the Federal level
The bill goes through the following steps:
First Reading  Second Reading (or Standing Committee to review bill prior to sending for a second reading)  Standing Committee (or Whole House Committee)  Third Reading  Royal Assent
Major change in process at the provincial level: the bill does not have to go to the Senate (the Senate doesn’t exist at the Provincial level!)

7. Policies and Laws at the Municipal Level
Regardless of size, all municipalities are governed by a council elected by the citizens of the municipality.
At the municipal level, laws are passed by a council through a simple majority vote.
The role of Councillors:
Representing their constituents at council, for example defending a neighbourhood decision to retain a park and not allow development
Representing their municipality and their constituents at community events
Developing and supporting policies that guide the services provided by the municipality
Passing laws, known at the municipal level as by-laws, such as parking and noise by-laws, to regulate the actions of people and businesses in the municipality
Sitting on council committees such as the waste management or the budget committee
Deciding on what services and level of service the municipality should offer and how to pay for them, within the parameters of provincial legislation
Working with other agencies involved in similar issues, for example housing, social services, environment and transportation.

8. Developing Policy
A policy is a plan or statement that embraces identified goals and sets the course of action to achieve those goals.
Developing an effective and comprehensive policy includes:
Problem identification -- asking the policy question, "What do we want to achieve?"
Priority setting – where the issue gets placed on the political agenda to be addressed among competing issues.
Policy formulation and design – where policy goals are established.
Passage of policy instruments – the stage where approval is received from staff and council for implementing the policy instruments.
Implementation – this stage activates the policy by delivering the services, programs or funding identified

9. To do...
In your own words, outline the steps a bill goes through to become a law at each of the following levels:
Federal
Provincial
Municipal
Identify the similarities and differences in the process of a bill becoming a law at all 3 levels
Why do you think there are so many steps in the creation of a law? Explain your thinking.
Do you think the process of moving a bill through so many steps is effective? Why or why not?
Extra Work – finish any questions from yesterday that you didn’t get to