What happens at the committee stage of a bill?
- Citizens vote on the bill
- Committee members study the bill clause by clause
- The Governor General signs the bill
- The bill is printed for the first time
Answer: Committee members study the bill clause by clause
Committee stage is step 3, after second reading and before report stage. Committee members study the bill clause by clause. Printing happens at first reading, and the Governor General grants royal assent only at the very end.
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.