The Legislative Process

ntroduction
This page looks at legislative processes in different European countries, specifically, The UK, France and Germany.

This page was emailed to a number of friends on 27th July 2010
The United Kingdom

Initiate Legislation Bills can be introduced by:

  1. The government
  2. Individual MPs or Lords
  3. Private individuals or organisations
 Right Arrow Different types of Bill:

  1. Public Bills
  2. Private Members’ Bills
  3. Private Bills
  4. Hybrid Bills
Down Left Arrow Down Arrow
Bills starting in the
House of Commons		 Bills starting in the
House of Lords
House of Commons

First Reading
Second Reading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Reading

 House of Lords

First Reading
Second Reading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Reading
Down Arrow Down Arrow
House of Lords

First Reading
Second Reading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Reading

 House of Commons

First Reading
Second Reading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Reading
Down Arrow
              Consideration of amendments
Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of the Bill.
Down Arrow
  Royal Assent
Receive Royal Assent and become an Act of Parliament


Germany

 

Initiate Legislation Bills can be introduced by:

  1. German Bundestag MPs
  2. Bundesrat
  3. Federal Government
 Right Arrow Different types of Bill:

ALL
Bills initiated by Federal Government
Via Federal Chancellor		 Bills initiated by Bundesrat Via Federal Chancellor Bills initiated by Members of the German Bundestag
Down Arrow Down Arrow Down Arrow
Bundesrat
6 Weeks to comment		 Bundesrat
Majority of the Members have voted in favour of a bill		 Bundestag

supported by either
  1. at least one parliamentary group
  2. least five percent of German Bundestag Members
Down Arrow Down Arrow Down Arrow
Federal Government
Respond to comments		 Federal Government
6 weeks to comment		 President of the German Bundestag who distributes to all the Members of the German Bundestag, the members of the Bundesrat and the federal ministries as a Bundestag printed paper
Down Arrow Down Arrow Down Arrow
Bundesrat
Recieve comment responses
Bundestag

3 readings

  1. 1st reading assign a committee
  2. 2nd reading general debate
  3. 3rd reading voting
Federal Chancellor forwards the bill to the Bundestag with the Federal Government comments
Down Arrow Right Down Left Arrow
Bundestag
Voted with required majority and
become an Act of Parliament


France

Initiate Legislation Bills can be introduced by:

  1. The Government
  2. Members Bills
 Right Arrow Different types of Bill:

  1. Finance Bills
  2. Social Security Finance Bills
  3. Other Bills
Down Left Arrow Down Arrow
Bills starting in the National Assembly

  1. Finance Bills
  2. Social Security Finance Bills
  3. Other Bills
 Bills starting in Senate

Other bills
Down Arrow Down Arrow
National Assembly

“Text De Loi”

 The Senate

“Text De Loi”
Down Arrow Down Arrow
HeadHeadHeadHeadHeadHeadHead
A Commission of 7 Senators and
7 Deputies draw up a bill
Down Arrow
Consideration of amendments
Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of the Bill.
Down Arrow