A committee review of a proposed law leads to a formal reporting process and subsequent steps in the legislative procedure. The exact sequence can vary by country, but the general pattern is similar across many parliamentary systems. Direct answer
- After a committee reviews a bill, it typically holds hearings, collects testimony, and conducts a clause-by-clause examination.
- The committee may propose amendments and then votes on the bill or on the amendments.
- If the committee approves the bill, it issues a report back to the full chamber (the parliament or congress) detailing its findings and any recommended changes.
- The bill then proceeds to a formal consideration in the chamber where it was referred: usually a report stage or an equivalent, where members can further amend or debate the bill.
- Following that, it moves to third reading or final consideration in the original chamber.
- If adopted, the bill is sent to the other chamber (if the legislative system is bicameral) for a parallel process of review, amendment, and voting.
- If both chambers approve the bill in the same form—or after reconciliation of differences through a conference committee or similar mechanism—enrollment or final passage occurs, and the bill is sent to the head of state (e.g., president, governor, monarch) for signing into law or for veto.
- If the bill is amended or rejected at any stage, the process can reset or stop, requiring further reconsideration or rejection.
Key nuances by system
- In many systems, committee reports can include recommended amendments and a summary of testimony; the report guides subsequent floor debate but does not itself become law.
- Some legislatures require a royal or presidential assent after final passage; without it, the bill does not become law.
- If a bill is rejected at any stage or if a session ends before passage, the bill may die unless reintroduced in a future session.
If you’d like, specify the country or jurisdiction you have in mind, and the answer can be tailored to that system’s precise rules and timelines.
