Materials for Lectures on the Legislative Process

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The Legislative Process

Legislation is the process of enacting laws or the end product of that process.

Stages include:

 Drafting the bill – publication in Kenya Gazette (14 or 7 days)

 First reading – mere formality for notification

 Reference to department committee

 2nd reading – debate on the principle

 Committee stage - work on the technical detail

 Report stage – opportunity for amendments

 3rd reading – limited amendments

 Presidential assent

Some points to ponder

 Adequacy of scrutiny in Parliament

 Quality of debates

 Problems of time constraints, expertise etc. Hence

 Subsidiary legislation (including advantages/ disadvantages and parliamentary/

judiciary control)