Government bill
Topic: Parliamentary Procedure, Committees and Privileges · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Legislature"
Meaning
A government bill is a bill (a draft law) introduced by a minister. The ministry concerned prepares it, the Legislative Department checks and drafts it, and the Cabinet approves it. Most laws start this way. The Cabinet decides both what the bill says and when it is brought in (Class 11). Because the government usually has a majority, most of its bills are passed.
Example
The RTE Bill came from the government, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 2008 and became an Act in 2009. Under the 2014 pre-legislative consultation policy, ministries are asked to publish draft bills for public comment for at least 30 days before introducing them.
Don't confuse with
- Private member's bill: it is introduced by an MP who is not a minister, after a month's notice, and is taken up on Friday afternoons. Only 14 have ever become law.