Legislation is the governing law that outlines rules and regulations citizens must follow, whether it be civil rights, health care, food safety or securities. Lawmakers at the local, state and federal level create legislation that governs all areas of society, from economic issues to foreign policy, to social welfare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Legislators meet to debate political issues and vote on proposed laws, called bills. They must have a certain number of members present to carry out these activities, known as a quorum. Bills may be assigned to committees, where they are examined for specific details or broader policy concerns. Once a bill has received committee approval, it is returned to the legislative body for further consideration. A legislator’s constituents can ask him or her to “co-sponsor” a bill to show support.
A bicameral legislature, such as the United States Congress, requires that both houses of the legislature approve the final form of a bill before it becomes law. If the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, a conference committee is formed to work out differences. A negotiated version of the bill is then sent back to both chambers for a final vote.
Once a bill receives the approval of both chambers, it is considered an Act of Parliament. These Acts can be amended or repealed. The date on which an Act comes into effect is sometimes specified within the Act itself, but in many cases is left to the discretion of the Commonwealth Governor-General or State Governor, who carries out the Royal Assent on behalf of the Sovereign.