reading

10:26 Mar 8, 2010 

In many parliamentary systems legislation is presented as 'bills' to the voting chamber (such as the "Tweede Kamer" in the Netherlands. The bill is presented for a first reading (and can be amended) and voted on by the chamber before it passes to the Upper House for a first reading and any amendments followed by a vote there. It then returns to the first chamber for a second reading (it now includes all the amendments that were approved by both chambers) and any subsequent amendments and vote. It goes back to the upper chamber for a second reading etc with vote before being signed in the Netherlands by the Queen and passing into law.
Van Dale provides eerste, tweede en derde lezing van een wetsontwerp.
Simple dictionary work.