Reading (legislature)
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Reading is a mechanism by which a bill is introduced to, and approved by, a legislature.
[edit] First reading
A first reading is when a bill is introduced to a legislature. Typically in the United States, the bill is assigned a tracking number and immediately assigned to a committee, and is amended by committee between the first and second readings. In most British influenced legislatures (see: Westminster system), the committee consideration occurs between second and third readings.
In Canada, first reading of a bill can occur in either the Senate or House of Commons in the federal parliament. Since the provincial legislatures are unicameral, first reading occurs in the sole chamber of those parliaments. The bill is then printed.
[edit] Second reading
A second reading is the stage of the legislative process where a draft of a bill is read a second time. In most Westminster systems, a vote is taken in the general outlines of the bill before being sent to committee.
In Canada, second reading occurs in Parliament. Members debate and vote on the principle of the bill. The House may decide to refer the bill to a legislative, standing or special committee, or to a Committee of the Whole for consideration (clause-by-clause study of the bill). The Committee may summon witnesses and experts to provide it with information and help in improving the bill. The committee then reports the bill to the House clearly indicating any amendments proposed. The house then considers amendments, voting for or against them.
In the U.S. practice as followed in both the Congress and the state legislatures, the second reading occurs after the bill has been vetted by committee and includes debate on amendments to the bill. If the bill is passed identically on second reading by both houses of the legislature, no further action is necessary.
The different roles of the second reading are in part a reflection of the different powers of legislative committees. Legislative committees are far more powerful in the United States than in Westminster systems.
[edit] Third reading
A third reading is the stage of a legislative process in which a bill is read with all amendments and given final approval by a legislative body. In legislatures whose procedures are based on those of the Westminster system, the third reading occurs after the bill has been amended by committee. In the state legislatures and Congress of the United States, a third reading occurs only if the two legislative houses pass differing versions on second reading and those differences must be resolved by conference committee. Third reading is unnecessary in the United States when the versions of the bill passed by both legislative houses are identical.
In the Parliament of Canada, if the bill passes the third reading, it is then sent to the other chamber of parliament to start the process again at first reading in that chamber. The final step, after passing third reading in both chambers, is Royal Assent. In the unicameral provincial legislatures in Canada, after passing third reading in the sole chamber, the bill goes directly for Royal Assent.
