Definition of Bill

A law can begin to apply when it appears in the official gazette of a nation. In its initial process of elaboration, a law is nothing more than a proposal, that is, a bill.

General considerations for processing

The processing of a bill is subject to the procedures legal established in each country. However, there are some aspects that are common in most nations. In this sense, as rule In general, every bill comes from the legislative initiative of the people's representatives.

Outside of legislative power, the executive power (the government of a nation) also has the power to propose a bill. Popular action (also called popular initiative) is another of the legislative ways to put a bill.

As a general criterion, a bill must be approved by members of the government and subsequently Said bill is transferred to the Chamber of Representatives so that this body can rule on its viability.

The popular initiative and the bill

Most of the constitutional texts contemplate the possibility of the people launching a citizen initiative in the form of a bill. For this to be possible, it is necessary that the specific proposal be accompanied by a certain number of citizens' signatures that support the initial project.

In the case of Spain, the popular initiative must be endorsed by a minimum of 500,000 signatures. In Argentina, signatures are required to reach 1.5% of the electoral roll. In the case of Colombia the percentage must be 5% and in Mexico citizens can propose laws if 0.13% of the voters list is reached.

The United States' dry law was originally a bill promoted by a popular initiative

From 1920 to 1933 the dry law was in effect throughout the territory from the United States. With this law, severe limits were imposed on alcohol consumption. It was women who initially promoted the law, and they did so because many husbands came home drunk and acted violently on them.

Although the reasons for its approval were legitimate, the final approval of the prohibition law led to the illegal traffic of alcohol and the consequent increase in organized crime (the gangster Al Capone was one of the characters most benefited by the prohibition of alcohol).

Photo: Fotolia - Saklakova