Legislative initiative

Legislative initiative is exercised through a government bill tabled by the Prime Minister or a private member's bill tabled by an MP or senator. The two types follow different preparation and admissibility rules before entering parliamentary consideration. Tabling an initiative starts a procedure but does not create law by itself.

The Government introduces a government bill while an MP separately tables a private member’s bill.

Legislative initiative starts a new text; the right of amendment changes a text already under consideration.

Shared by Government and parliamentarians

Takes two distinct forms

Precedes parliamentary consideration