Bills & Types of Bills
The basic function of Parliament is to make laws. All legislative proposals have to be
brought in the form of Bills before Parliament. A Bill is a statute in draft and cannot become
law unless it has received the approval of both the Houses of Parliament and the assent of
the President of India.
The process of law making begins with the introduction of a Bill in either House of
Parliament. A Bill can be introduced either by a Minister or a member other than a Minister.
In the former case, it is called a Government Bill and in the latter case, it is known as a
Private Member’s Bill.
A Bill undergoes three readings in each House, i.e., the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha,
before it is submitted to the President …
How Bill becomes an Act?
First Reading
The First Reading refers to (i) motion for leave to introduce a Bill in the House on the
adoption of which the Bill is introduced; or(ii) in the case of a Bill originated in and passed
by the other House, the laying on the Table of the House of the Bill, as passed by the other
House.
Second Reading
The Second Reading consists of two stages. The “First Stage” constitutes discussion on the
principles of the Bill and its provisions generally on any of the following motions – that the
Bill be taken into consideration; or that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee of the
House; or that the Bill be referred to a Joint Committee of the Houses with the concurrence
of the other House; or that the Bill be circulated for the purpose of eliciting opinion thereon.
The "Second Stage" constitutes the clause by clause consideration of the Bill, as
introduced in the House or as reported by a Select or Joint Committee, as the case may be.
In the case of a Bill passed by Rajya Sabha and transmitted to Lok Sabha, it is first laid on
the Table of Lok Sabha by the Secretary-General, Lok Sabha. In this case the Second
Reading refers to the motion (i) that the Bill, as passed by Rajya Sabha, be taken into
consideration; or (ii) that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee (if the Bill has not
already been referred to a Joint Committee of the Houses).
Third Reading
The Third Reading refers to the discussion on the motion that the Bill or the Bill, as
amended, be passed. Almost similar procedure is followed in Rajya Sabha in respect of
Bills introduced in that House. After a Bill has been finally passed by the Houses of
Parliament, it is submitted to the President for his assent. After a Bill has received the
assent of the President, it becomes the law of the land.
Assent to Bills
After a Bill has been passed by both the Houses of Parliament, it is presented to the
President for his assent. The President may either assent to the Bill, withhold his assent, or
return the Bill, if it is not a Money Bill, with a message for reconsideration of the Bill, or any
specified provisions thereof, or for considering the desirability of introducing any such
amendments as he may recommend in his message.
The President may either give or withhold his assent to a Money Bill. A Money Bill can not be
returned to the House by the President for reconsideration. Also, the President is bound to
give his assent to Constitution Amendment Bill passed by Parliament by the prescribed
special majority and, where necessary, ratified by the requisite number of State
Legislatures.
Types of Bill
1. Ordinary Bill
2. Money Bill
3. Financial Bill
4. Appropriation Bill
5. Private Member Bill
6. Public/ Government Bill
