What is the final step before a bill becomes law?
- A national referendum
- A vote by provincial Premiers
- Approval by the Supreme Court
- Royal Assent, granted by the Governor General
Answer: Royal Assent, granted by the Governor General
Royal assent is the seventh and last step. After a bill passes both the House of Commons and the Senate, the Governor General grants royal assent on behalf of the Sovereign. Until then, the bill cannot become law.
Learn more: How a bill becomes law
- A proposed law before Parliament is called a bill.
- Step 1, first reading: the bill is considered read for the first time and is printed.
- Step 2, second reading: members debate the principle of the bill.
- Step 3, committee stage: committee members study the bill clause by clause.
- Step 4, report stage: members can make other amendments.
- Step 5, third reading: members debate and vote on the bill.
- Step 6, Senate: the bill follows a similar process in the Senate, which considers and reviews bills.
- Step 7, royal assent: the final step, granted by the Governor General after both Houses pass the bill.
- Canadians aged 18 or older should take part in democracy by voting in federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal elections.