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Politics & Government vocabulary · Parliament and Legislation

Bill

Meaning in politics & government, with examples

/bɪl/nounCore term

In politics & government, bill means: A written proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law, which parliament discusses and votes on before it can become law.

In Turkish: kanun teklifi, yasa tasarısı, tasarı

How it is used

A bill is introduced or tabled, debated, amended, voted on and then passed or rejected. In many systems it goes through several readings and a committee stage. Once passed and signed, it becomes an act or a law.

Example sentences

  1. The bill passed its first reading by a narrow margin.

  2. Opposition MPs have proposed several amendments to the housing bill.

Common collocations

  • introduce a bill
  • pass a bill
  • draft bill
  • the bill becomes law
  • vote on a bill
  • legislationLaws in general, or a particular law or group of laws made by a parliament or other law-making body; also the process of making them.
  • amendmentA change made to a bill, a law or a constitution, or a formal proposal for such a change that is discussed and voted on.
  • parliamentThe elected body of representatives that makes a country's laws, approves the budget and checks the work of the government.
  • committeeA small group of members of parliament or another body who examine bills, investigate issues and report back on a particular area of work.
  • vetoThe official right of a person or body to reject a law or decision; also the act of using this right to stop it.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Parliament and Legislation

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