Glossary for Bills

Glossary for Bills

• Amended print

  If a Bill is amended by the House that considers it first, a new version of the Bill is prepared for the second House. This new version incorporates the amendments made by the first House. This version is called an amended print.

• As sent print

  If a Bill is amended by the House that considers it first, a new version of the Bill is prepared for the second House. This new version was historically called an "as sent print". It is now called an amended print.

• Circulation print

  A circulation print is a version of a Bill produced after the Bill is introduced to Parliament. It includes an endorsement specifying the date of the Bill's introduction and the House in which it was introduced. Circulation prints are no longer produced.

• Clerk's correction

  This is a correction made to a Bill by a Clerk of one of the Houses of the Parliament. These corrections may be made after a House has passed the Bill. Types of these corrections include renumbering and clerical and typographical errors.

• Committee stage

  During the committee stage of a Bill, the Legislative Council examines the Bill clause by clause. Amendments to the Bill are debated and voted on at this time.

• Consideration in detail

  During the consideration in detail stage of a Bill, the Legislative Assembly examines the Bill clause by clause. House amendments to the Bill are debated and voted on at this time.

• Explanatory memorandum

  When a Bill is introduced to Parliament, it may be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum that explains what the Bill is about.

• First reading

  This is when a House of Parliament votes on whether to allow Bill to be introduced. At this stage, the long title of the Bill is read out in the House, but the text of the Bill is not yet circulated or made public.

• Governor's amendment

  After a Bill has passed both Houses of the Parliament, the Governor may suggest that the Bill should be amended. Each House then votes on whether to make the amendment.

• House amendment

  A house amendment to a Bill is a document introduced by a member of Parliament proposing a change to the Bill. The House in which the member proposes those changes votes on whether to make them.

• Introduction print

  The introduction print of a Bill is the version of the Bill that is first introduced to Parliament.

• Royal Assent

  After a Bill has passed both Houses of the Parliament, the Governor agrees to the Bill by giving it Royal Assent. The Bill then becomes an Act of Parliament and a law.

• Schedule of amendments

  If a Bill is amended by the second House to consider it, those amendments are listed in a schedule of amendments. This schedule is then sent to the House that first considered the Bill. That House then considers the amendments listed in the schedule.

• Second reading

  The second reading stage is when a House of Parliament debates a Bill's principles. It begins when the member who introduced the Bill moves for the Bill to be read a second time. The Bill is distributed to the members of that House. If the Bill is not yet public, it is made public at this time. The member who introduced the Bill then gives a "second reading speech" explaining the Bill. Other members may also give speeches about the Bill. Finally, the House votes on whether the Bill should progress to the next stage of consideration.

• Statement of compatibility

  A statement of compatibility states whether and how a Bill is compatible or incompatible with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. The statement is read or tabled by the member who introduced the Bill. This is done before the member moves for the Bill to be read a second time.

• Third reading

  This is the final stage a House of Parliament can pass or reject a Bill in its entirety. If the vote on the third reading succeeds, then the House has passed the Bill.