What is the difference between a bill and an act, and who has the authority to pass bills into law?

• A. A bill is proposed legislation; an act is a bill that has become law after approval and assent; Parliament has authority to pass bills into law.
• B. A bill is already law; an act is proposed legislation.
• C. Only the executive can pass bills into law.
• D. All bills automatically become acts after first reading.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how a piece of proposed legislation becomes law. A bill is the draft or proposed law that begins the process. An act is that same proposal once Parliament has approved it and it has received formal assent, after which it becomes binding law. The authority to pass bills into law lies with Parliament: members debate, amend, and vote on bills, and for most bills to become law they must be approved by the relevant legislative bodies and then receive assent from the Crown’s representative (such as the Governor-General at the federal level or a state governor). The executive may draft and introduce bills, but it is Parliament that makes the ultimate decision to pass them, and assent completes the process. The other statements aren’t correct because a bill is not yet law, assent is required for a bill to become an act, and assent is a formal step rather than unilateral executive action.