HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW SIMULATION

SSII

This activity is a simplified version of the process the legislative branch goes through to make a law. It is intended to give you a better understanding of:

how political parties function. how a law is made in Canada

Political Parties

Everyone in the class will be MPs and will be in a political party (Conservative, Liberal or NDP).

The party with the most MPs will form the government. It will be either a majority or minority government.

Next, the cabinet will meet to create a bill. Their goal will be to have this bill become a law. The Bill will be called “Bill 100”.

Step 1: First Reading of the Bill

BILL 100: “Minimum Wage will be raised to $12 per hour.”

Step 2: Caucus Meeting

Your party’s caucus will discuss your party’s position on this bill. YOUR PARTY’S POSITION MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PARTY’S POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN REAL LIFE!

Step 3: Second Reading of Bill

 a) Debate. You should take the position of your party, even if you don’t agree with the position personally.

 b) Vote on the bill. If the bill passes

the second reading, it will be sent to a Parliamentary Committee for review and editing

Step 4: Parliamentary Committee Reviews and Edits the Bill

A committee with members from many different parties work out the details of the bill. It is at this stage where the public has a say. Citizens can suggest ways to improve the bills.

Step 5: The Third Reading

The update version of the bill is now read aloud to the House of Commons, and voted on again. If the House accepts the committees changes…

 

Step 6: The Senate

The bill is sent to the senate, where it will go through the same process of three readings

Step 7: Governor-General Signs

 If the bill passes all 3 Senate Readings it will be sent to the Governor-General for her signature. Once she has signed it, the bill is law.