Question

What is the correct sequence of stages that a bill passes through before becoming an act?

Answer 1

The primary function of parliament is to make new laws, amend existing laws and repeal old laws. For every such procedure, a bill needs to be passed in both houses of parliament. Once passed in both the houses, bill needs to get assent of the president to become an act. 

Government Bill versus Private Member Bill

If a bill is introduced in the house by a minister, it is called government bill or public bill. If the bill is introduced by any other member than a minister, it is called private member bill.  A private member bill can be introduced by both ruling party and opposition MPs. The other differences between the two are as follows:

While Government bill needs a seven day notice for its introduction, private bill needs one month notice.While Government bill has more chances to get clear, private bills are generally withdrawn or get lapsed.Depending on the type of government bill and the majority needed to get such bill passed, the government may collapse upon its failure. For example, during budget, the government needs to get appropriation bills and finance bills passed; failure to do so would lead to collapse of government. However, no impact is on health of government when a private member bill gets rejected.

We note here that if a private member desires to introduce a bill, he/ she must give notice of his intention to the speaker. For every bill it is necessary to ask for leave of the House to introduce a Bill. If leave is granted, the bill may be introduced. After a bill has been introduced, it is published in the Gazette. However, before introduction, a bill may be published in the Gazette with the permission of the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha. No leave is required to introduce bill in such as case.

Process of passing the ordinary billsFirst Reading

Generally, there is no debate on introduction of a bill. The person (Minister or MP) who is given a leave to introduce a bill may present some broad idea to introduce the bill. This is called moving the bill or motion for introduction of the bill. The moving of the ordinary bill can be opposed by the opposition. If the introduction of the bill is opposed, speaker may allow one of the opposing members to cite the reasons. After that Speaker will put the question to vote. If the House is in favor of introduction of the bill, then the bill is introduced and passes for the next stage. Please note that the motion for introduction of a Finance Bill or an Appropriation Bill is not opposed.  This introduction is called “First Reading”.

Second Reading

After introduction, the bill is open for 4 alternative courses of action in the second stage:

It may be taken into consideration.It may be forwarded to a Select Committee of the House.It may be referred to a Joint Committee of both the houses i.e. Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.It may be circulated / put on website for purpose of eliciting the public opinion on it.

The last alternative is resorted only in a case when the proposed legislative measure may arouse a public controversy. However, if a bill is of emergent nature, any of the upper three alternatives is taken. The Select Committee or the Joint committee is expected to give its report in a stipulated time.

Select Committee / Joint Committee

The Select Committee or Joint Committee members are selected on the basis of expert knowledge. and its members also include the Opposition Members. If it is a Joint Committee, then 2/3 members are from Lok Sabha and 1/3 are from the Rajya Sabha. The report of this committee may be unanimous or majority opinion. If it is a Majority Opinion, the minority is allowed to give the “Minutes of Dissent” in the report.

Answer 2

$\huge \mathcal {\underline \color{blue}{ANSWER - }}$

__________________________________________

$\implies$A bill passes through various stages in the lok sabha before it becomes an act:

First Stage - A minister or a member of the parliament can introduce the bill and explain its objectives. If the house accepts it, then it is passed to the next stage.

Second Stage - A general discussion on the bill takes place. There is a clause by clause discussion on the bill.

Third Stage - Errors are rectified and is finally passed with simple majority.

__________________________________________