There are many stages that a bill passes before becoming an Act of Parliament. These stages ensure that a bill is subject to public debate and scrutiny, some of these stages also provide an opportunity for a bill to be changed.
A bill is publicaly available after its introduction. Once the bill has been printed it may be introduced under SO270 by the Leader of the house informing the Clerk of the governments intention to introduce the bill.
Six steps in the process by bill becomes law
1. First Reading : A first reading debate provide the first chance to debate a bill in the House. It can occur no sooner than the third sitting day after a bills introduction. These delay allows members time to look at a bill and decide if they agree with it.It also allows the Attorney General time to make sure that a bill consistent with the New Zealand bill of rights Act, 1990. At the end of the debate the House decide if a bill shold progress and votes on whether it shold be read a first time. If a bill is defeated in tha vote , that is the end of the bill.A two hours debate on the bill as whole.
2. Select committee : The bill is refered to the appropriate subject committee. The committee usually has 6 months to examine the bill and prepare a report for the House. Select committees normally invite public submissions on a bill Then they hold public hearings to some of those who made submissions. After hearing submissions they work through the isues raised, and decide what changes, if any, shold be made to the bill.
3. Second Reading : A bill can be read a second time no sooner than the third sitting day after the select committee reports to the House.Changes not supported by every committee member are subject to a single vote at the end of the second reading debate. Also changese that supported by every committee member are automatically included in the bill if the second reading is agreed. If the vote is lost, that is end of the bill. If the second reading is agreed, the bill is ready for debate by a committee of the whole House.
4. Committee of the whole House : Any member of the House can participate when a committee of the House debates a bill.The members sit in the Chamber but the spaker does not take the chair.Members have many chances to make short speeches and debate the provisions of a bill.These debates are a chance to examine the bill in deteil. Ministers and members can propose changes.There is no time limit on these debates. Large or controversil bills may be before a committee of the whole House for several days.Once the final form of a bill is agreed, it is reprinted to show any changes that have been made.The bill is then ready for third reading.
5. Third Reading : This is final form of the summing up debate on a bill. The vote at the end of the debate is the final vote in the House to either pass the bill or reject it.Bill are rarely rejected at this stage.If the bill is passed there is one final step before it become law.
6. Royal assent : The final stage - A bill is not a law until it is signed by the Sovereign or the Sovereigns representative in New Zealand, the Governor Genral. This is called the Royal assent.
References
Hubbard, J., Thomas, C., Varnham, S. (2010). Principles of Law. New Zealand, For New Zealand Business Students.
Parliamentary Process
There are many stages that a bill passes before becoming an Act of Parliament. These stages ensure that a bill is subject to public debate and scrutiny, some of these stages also provide an opportunity for a bill to be changed.
A bill is publicaly available after its introduction. Once the bill has been printed it may be introduced under SO270 by the Leader of the house informing the Clerk of the governments intention to introduce the bill.
Six steps in the process by bill becomes law
1. First Reading : A first reading debate provide the first chance to debate a bill in the House. It can occur no sooner than the third sitting day after a bills introduction. These delay allows members time to look at a bill and decide if they agree with it.It also allows the Attorney General time to make sure that a bill consistent with the New Zealand bill of rights Act, 1990. At the end of the debate the House decide if a bill shold progress and votes on whether it shold be read a first time. If a bill is defeated in tha vote , that is the end of the bill.A two hours debate on the bill as whole.
2. Select committee : The bill is refered to the appropriate subject committee. The committee usually has 6 months to examine the bill and prepare a report for the House. Select committees normally invite public submissions on a bill Then they hold public hearings to some of those who made submissions. After hearing submissions they work through the isues raised, and decide what changes, if any, shold be made to the bill.
3. Second Reading : A bill can be read a second time no sooner than the third sitting day after the select committee reports to the House.Changes not supported by every committee member are subject to a single vote at the end of the second reading debate. Also changese that supported by every committee member are automatically included in the bill if the second reading is agreed. If the vote is lost, that is end of the bill. If the second reading is agreed, the bill is ready for debate by a committee of the whole House.
4. Committee of the whole House : Any member of the House can participate when a committee of the House debates a bill.The members sit in the Chamber but the spaker does not take the chair.Members have many chances to make short speeches and debate the provisions of a bill.These debates are a chance to examine the bill in deteil. Ministers and members can propose changes.There is no time limit on these debates. Large or controversil bills may be before a committee of the whole House for several days.Once the final form of a bill is agreed, it is reprinted to show any changes that have been made.The bill is then ready for third reading.
5. Third Reading : This is final form of the summing up debate on a bill. The vote at the end of the debate is the final vote in the House to either pass the bill or reject it.Bill are rarely rejected at this stage.If the bill is passed there is one final step before it become law.
6. Royal assent : The final stage - A bill is not a law until it is signed by the Sovereign or the Sovereigns representative in New Zealand, the Governor Genral. This is called the Royal assent.
References
Hubbard, J., Thomas, C., Varnham, S. (2010). Principles of Law. New Zealand, For New Zealand Business Students.
How Parliament work, (2006).How a bill becomes law, Retrieved March 21,2011 from http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/HowPWorks/Laws/7/5/6.htm