Making laws is tough work. Every day, something that you do or that you touch has been considered by a lawmaker. But how does an idea get to be a law that affects everyone?

The following shows how a bill is passed through either the House of Commons or the Senate. Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries typically introduce bills, but individual parliamentarians can also introduce bills (called Private Member’s Bills).

DID YOU KNOW? If a bill originates in the Senate, the bill is identified with the letter S and given a number; for example, Bill S-4. If a Bill originates in the House of Commons, it is identified with the letter C and given a number; for example, Bill C-78.

TALK ABOUT IT! Take a walk around your neighbourhood. What do you see that needs changing? How can you change things, or get your government to change them? Talk to members of your family and your friends. What issues are important to them?

1 FIRST READING

Any idea for a new law or a change to current law is written down. The idea is now called a bill. The bill is printed and read in the Chamber where it is introduced.

2 SECOND READING

The bill is given a Second Reading in the Chamber where it is introduced, where parliamentarians debate the idea behind the bill. They consider questions such as, “Is the idea behind the bill good?” “Does it meet people’s needs?” “Who will be affected by this bill?” If the Chamber votes for the bill and it passes this stage, it goes to a committee.

3 COMMITTEE STAGE

At the Committee Stage, the bill is studied carefully. Committee members hold hearings or special meetings where different people inside and outside government can make comments about the bill. The committee can ask for government officials and experts, or witnesses, to come and answer questions. The committee can suggest changes or amendments to the bill when it gives its report to the Chamber.

4 REPORT STAGE

At the Report Stage, the committee reports the bill back to the Chamber. All parliamentarians can then debate it. During this stage, those who were not part of the committee that studied the bill can suggest changes to the bill.

5 THIRD READING

The bill is then called for a Third Reading. The parliamentarians debate it again. Sometimes they can change their minds about a bill. They might vote for it at Second Reading but not at Third Reading if they do not like the changes made to the bill. If it passes Third Reading, the bill then goes to the other Chamber, where it goes through the same stages.

6 ROYAL ASSENT

Once both the Senate and the House of Commons have passed the bill in exactly the same wording, it is given to the Governor General (or his or her appointed representative) for Royal Assent (final approval), and it can become law.