Kinds of Bills

A bill is the draft of a legislative proposal, which becomes a law after receiving the
approval of both the houses of the Parliament and the assent of the President.
There are four types of bills-ordinary bill, money bill, finance bill and
constitutional amendment bills. After a Bill has been introduced, it is published in
the Official Gazette. Even before introduction, a Bill might, with the permission of
the Speaker, be published in the Gazette. The most significant function of the
Parliament is to take legislative decisions such as making a law or amending it. All
legislative proposals are brought before Parliament in the form of bills. A bill is
the draft of a legislative proposal, which becomes a law after receiving the
approval of both the houses of the Parliament and the assent of the President.
The two types of bills are public bills and private bills, which follow the same
procedure and pass through the same stages in both houses of the Parliament.
The differences between the two bills are as follows:

1. A government bill is essentially introduced by a minister whereas a private bill

is introduced by any member of the parliament other than a minister.
2. A government bill reflects the policies of the government while a private bill
reflects the stand of opposition party on public matters.
3. As the government has majority in the parliament, public bills have greater
chance to get passed. The Private members’ bills do not have this advantage.
4. The introduction of government bill in the House requires seven days notice
whereas the introduction of private bill requires one month’s notice.
5. The government bill is drafted by the concerned department in consultation
with the law department while the concerned member is responsible to draft
private bill.
Legislative procedure is initiated in the form of a bill, when the Bill is passed by
both Houses of Parliament and assented by the President, it becomes a law. Bills
introduced in the Indian Parliament can be classified into 4 types of bills. They are
as follows:

1. Money Bills
 These are defined in Article 110. These Bills deal with the taxes,
borrowings, consolidated and contingency funds, audit and accounting, etc.
 Article 109 of Indian Constitution gives special procedure regarding Money
Bills.
  A money Bill can originate only in Lok Sabha after the recommendations of
the President. Through the Bill is sent to Rajya Sabha also but even Rajya
Sabha rejects/returns the Bill (within days necessarily), the Bill is deemed to
be passed.
 The Appropriation Bill and Annual Financial Bill (Budget) are Money Bills.

2. Financial Bills
 Any Bill dealing with revenues or expenditure but not certified as Money
Bill by the Speaker is a Financial Bill.
 Financial Bill can only be introduced in Lok Sabha on the recommendations
of the President & should be passed by both Houses of Indian Parliament
(Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha) by Simple majority.

3. Constitutional Amendment Bills

 Under Article 368 of Indian Constitution with the powers of parliament to
amend the constitution, this bill can be introduced in any of the two Houses
without recommendations of the President.
 Such Bills must be passed by each house (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
separately with a special majority (two third of the members present and
voting which must be more than absolute majority).
 By 24th Constitution amendment Act, 1971 it is obligatory for the president
to give his assent to the Constitutional Amendment Bills.

4. Ordinary Bills
 Ordinary bills are concerned with any matter other than Financial Bills,
money Bills and Constitutional Amendment Bills.
 Such Bills can be introduced in either House of Indian Parliament (Lok
Sabha or Rajya Sabha) without the recommendations of President of India.
These bills are passed by Simple Majority in both Houses.

PROCESS OF PASSING BILLS:

1. Ordinary bill- The five stages through, which and ordinary bill passes to become
a law are as follows:
(a) First reading- It includes the introduction of the bill in either of the houses of
the Parliament by a minister or by a private member. It is followed by the grant of
leave and its publication in the Gazette of India.
(b) Second Reading: At this stage, the bill undergoes detailed scrutiny including
discussion of every clause. This stage can be further divided into the stages of
general discussion, committee stage and consideration stage.
(c) Third Reading: At this stage, no amendments are allowed. The bill needs to be
passed by a simple majority of members present and voting in the House. When
bill is authenticated by the presiding officer, it is sent to the other house for
consideration and approval.
(d) Bill in the second House: In the second House also, the bill needs to be passed
by a simple majority of members present and voting in the House. If the second
House passes the bill without any amendments, the bill is sent to the president
for his assent. There are three types of constitutional amendment bills:

(1) Bills that need to be passed by parliament by simple majority

(2) Bills that need to be passed by Parliament by the special majority
(3) Bills that need to be passed by Parliament by the special majority and also to
be ratified by not less than one-half of the state legislatures

Assent to Constitution Amendment Bills: Constitution Amendment Bills passed by

Parliament by the special majority and, where necessary, ratified by the requisite
number of state legislatures are presented to the President. The president must
give his assent to the bill. He can neither withhold his assent nor return the bill for
reconsideration of the parliament. The bill becomes an act after president’s
assent.

JOINT SITTING OF TWO HOUSES:

The joint sitting is a provision provided by the constitution to resolve the deadlock
on a bill between the two houses. A deadlock might arise, if after a bill has been
passed by one House and transmitted to the other House.