Act of parliament

[1] In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of parliament begin as a bill, which the legislature votes on.

Depending on the structure of government, this text may then be subject to assent or approval from the executive branch.

In territories with a Westminster system, most bills that have any possibility of becoming law are introduced into parliament by the government.

This will usually happen following the publication of a "white paper", setting out the issues and the way in which the proposed new law is intended to deal with them.

However, certain types of legislation are required, either by constitutional convention or by law, to be introduced into a specific chamber.

For example, bills imposing a tax, or involving public expenditure, are introduced into the House of Commons in the United Kingdom, Canada's House of Commons, Lok Sabha of India and Ireland's Dáil as a matter of law.

Finally, the approved bill receives assent; in most territories this is merely a formality and is often a function exercised by the head of state.

Once a bill has passed both Houses in an identical form, it is presented to the Governor General, who gives it royal assent.

Public acts apply to the whole of the UK or a number of its constituent countries – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This has been replaced in most territories by simple reference to the calendar year, with the first act passed being chapter 1, and so on.