1. Publication
in Gazette
A Bill must be published in
the Gazette at least seven days before it is placed on the Order Paper of
Parliament. This is for the purpose of publicizing it. Considering that law
affects everybody the public should be aware of the laws which the government
is expecting to pass, so that they can put forward their views and suggest
changes to any undesirable aspects of the proposed law. If anyone wishes to
challenge the Bill as being inconsistent with the Constitution, he or she must
go before the Supreme Court within one week of the Bill being placed on the
Order Paper, to have the matter determined. It is felt that a period of one
week gives insufficient opportunity to interested persons to challenge proposed
legislation.
2. First
Reading
The Bill is first presented
to Parliament after due notice usually by a Minister or Deputy Minister by its
long title being read by the Secretary-General. The Bill is than considered as
read for the first time and to have been ordered to be printed. At this point
there is no debate about the Bill.
3. Second Reading
A bill which has been read
for the first time, shall stand for Second Reading. There will be at this stage
a discussion of the general principles of the Bill. The Second Reading occurs
after a week has passed from the date of the First Reading.
4. Committee Stage
When a Bill is read for a
second time, it must be referred to a Committee of whole Parliament whilst some
Bills, if Parliament so decides, will be referred either to a Select Committee
or to a Standing Committee. According to Standing Orders no further action
could be taken regarding such a Bill until the Committee has reported on it.
The Committee stage is the process of law-making. At this stage the principles
behind the Bill cannot be discussed; the Committee has to restrict itself to
examining the different clauses of the Bill. The Committee may make amendments,
or delete or add new clauses to Bill. The Committee may admit members of the
public to present their views and also obtain the assistance of experts in
matters which are complex or technical. This is an important safeguard in a
democratic system of government as it gives the public an opportunity to
participate in the making of legislation. Outsiders cannot however be present
when the Committee is deliberating.
5. Report Stage
According to Standing Orders,
when a Committee of the whole Parliament has completed the consideration of a
Bill, the Chairman shall report the Bill with or without amendment to
Parliament. A standing Committee or a Select Committee to which a Bill has been
referred shall present a report to Parliament with any further amend them. At
this stage Parliament can only look at changes (amendments, deletions,
additions), if any, made by the Committee, it cannot reconsider any other
aspects of the Bill. Parliament can also refer back to the Committee for
reconsideration particular changes made by the Committee.
6. Third Reading
This is the final stage of
the Bill. A bill having passed through Committee Stage and Report Stage is read
a third time and passed. If any Member of Parliament wishes to make any verbal
or drafting amendments to the Bill he or she may move to do so after giving
notice.
7. Certificate of Speaker
When a Bill has been passed
by Parliament, the Speakers has to endorse on the Bill a certificate stating
that it has been duly grammatical or typographical errors in the Bill. The Bill
becomes law when the certificate of the Speakers is endorsed on it. Certain
Bills can only becomes law after approval of the public at a Referendum. In the
case of such a Bill the certificate of the Speakers must state that the Bill
shall not becomes law until such a Bill the certificate of the order to become
law finally requires a certificate endorsed by the President stating that it
has been approved by the people at the Referendum.
