first reading
Noun: 1. The initial presentation of a bill in a legislative body: This is the formal stage where a proposed law (a bill) is introduced and presented for the first time in a parliament, congress, or other legislative assembly. At this stage, the bill's title and main purpose are read aloud, but there is typically no detailed debate or vote on its content.
The term is used specifically in formal legislative and parliamentary procedure. It describes a procedural step, not a literal act of reading text.
- In a legislative context:
- The bill passed its first reading in the House of Commons and was ordered to be printed.
- After the first reading, the bill was referred to a committee for detailed study.
- "To have a first reading": This phrase describes the event of a bill being presented.
- The new environmental bill is scheduled to have its first reading next Tuesday.
- Second Reading: The next stage in the legislative process, where the general principles of the bill are debated.
- Third Reading: The final debate and vote on a bill in a legislative chamber.
- Reading (Parliamentary sense): Any one of the stages (first, second, third) at which a bill is presented or debated in a legislature.
- Introduction (of a bill): The formal act of presenting a new bill to the legislature.
- Initial presentation: The first time a bill is brought before the legislative body.
This term has a very specific meaning within parliamentary systems. It does not refer to the first time a person reads a book or document in a general sense. Its usage is almost exclusively confined to discussions of lawmaking and government procedure.
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the first presentation of a bill in a legislature
