Introduction

What is a Bill

The draft of a legislative proposal put in the proper form which, when passed by both Houses of Parliament and assented to by the President becomes an Act. All legislative proposals are brought before Parliament in the forms of Bills.

Types of Bills and their Specific Features

Bills may be classified into Government Bills and Private Members' Bills accordingly as they are sponsored by a Minister or a Private Member. A Bill can be introduce

Features of Bills

LONG TITLE, in brief describes the nature of the proposed measure and is prefixed to a Bill in the form: 'A Bill to ………..,etc.' PREAMBLE, which follows the Long Title and precedes the enacting formula explains certain facts necessitating the enactment WHEREAS……….,etc." It is useful in placing the proposal in the required context. ENACTING FORMULA, is a short paragraph preceding the clauses of a Bill. It is in the form : 'Be it enacted by Parliament in the …….. year of the Republic of India as follows: SHORT TITLE, is an index-heading to an enactment and is cited in the first clause of the Bill 'This Act may be called the …Act, 20…; where two or more Bills seek to amend the same principal Act a

How a Bill becomes an Act

A Bill, after being introduced in a House, goes through various stages of consideration. The Bill is thereafter put for vote. After the Bill is passed, in case it has not already been passed by the Lok Sabha in the identical form it is sent to the other House and there also it passes through similar stages of consideration and passing. When a Bill is passed by both Houses, it is presented to the President for his assent. Only after the assent is given, does the Bill become an Act.