![]() However, in order to have an orderly and thorough examination of the bill, Chairs often request that members submit their amendments to the clerk of the committee in advance of the clause-by-clause study of the bill. Notice is not required to propose an amendment at committee stage unless the committee itself adopts a rule to that effect. Like the legislative drafting service, procedural advice is confidential. ![]() Members are encouraged to obtain the advice of the legislative clerks on the procedural admissibility of their proposed amendments. An amendment may be properly drafted in a legal sense but, because parliamentary procedure is not a field of law, it may be inadmissible under the procedural rules and practices of the House of Commons. The drafting of amendments requires the legal expertise offered by legislative counsel. It is advisable to contact the legislative counsel as early as possible in the process so that the draft amendments may be prepared and considered within the applicable time constraints. The amendments, once drafted, will be sent to the member, who can then decide whether he or she wishes to move them. Based on written instructions given to them by members, the legislative counsel will draft amendments on a confidential basis, in both official languages and in accordance with established legislative drafting standards. If the member has a proposal for an amendment, he or she should access the legislative drafting services offered by lawyers in the House of Commons’ Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel. The committee also decides when to begin clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Usually, the committee hears first from the sponsor of the bill or from officials, who explain the provisions of the bill, and then from interested groups and individuals. The committee decides how and when it will study each bill that it receives. Third reading is the House's final look at the bill before it is sent to the Senate the Senate goes through a similar process when it examines a bill.If there are no report stage amendments, the House may concur in the bill as reported by the committee and proceed immediately to third reading. Report stage takes place in the House and gives the House a chance to examine, and further amend, the bill as reported by the committee.Once the committee has adopted the bill, it reports the bill, with or without amendments, to the House. This is the line-by-line, word-by-word examination of the bill and is the member's first, and maybe only, opportunity to amend the provisions of the bill. Committee stage of a bill usually begins with the hearing of witnesses followed by clause-by-clause consideration.This enables members to examine the principle of the bill and to propose amendments that may alter its scope.) (Note: Bills can be sent to committee before second reading. Once the motion is passed, the principle and scope of the bill are fixed. Second reading and reference to committee is a debatable motion on the general principles of the bill.It is then printed and distributed there is no debate at this stage. First reading simply introduces the bill, thus making it public.These readings and stages occur in the following order: ![]() Bills still have three readings but with two more stages. In the days before printing was common, bills were quite literally read three times so that members had a clear idea of what they were voting on. The clause, line and page numbers are always referred to in an amendment so that everyone can determine its exact location in the text of the bill. Titles, clauses, the preamble and most schedules are amendable. lines of text, which are also numbered.clauses, which are numbered 1, 2, 3, etc.a title (a short title may also be included for easy reference).A bill may amend a current law or enact a new one. Structure of a BillĪ bill is the text of a legislative initiative submitted to Parliament to be approved and possibly amended before becoming law. A summary of the steps to follow when preparing amendments is also available. It is not intended to cover all aspects of the legislative process. This summary is intended to provide basic information to members and their staff on how to amend bills at committee and report stages.
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