How Is Draft Legislation Turned Into Law?

• Author: John Mark Keyes/Wendy Gordon
• Pages: 57-70

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How Is Draft Legislation Turned

IntoLaw?

Primary Legislation

After a bill has been drafted, it passes through a series of stages

in Parliament or, in the case of the provinces or territories, their

legislatures.

Parliament consists of three components: the king and two

legislative chambers or Houses (the Senate and the House of Com-

mons). Each provincial and territorial legislature consists of two

components: the lieutenant governors (or the commissioners in the

territories) and a chamber or House called a legislative assembly (or

the National Assembly in Quebec).

At the federal level, bills can be introduced in either the Senate

or the House of Commons, with the exception of bills dealing with

the imposition of taxes or spending public money, which must be

introduced in the House of Commons f‌irst.

Once introduced in a House, the bill goes through several stages

in which it can be studied, debated, and adopted in that House. It is

then introduced in the other House, where it can again be studied,

debated, and adopted.