Editing Australian Senate (section)

====Dealing with legislation====
All [[bill (law)|bills]] must be passed by a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before they become law. Most bills originate in the House of Representatives, and the great majority are introduced by the government.

The usual procedure is for notice to be given by a government minister the day before the bill is introduced into the Senate. Once introduced the bill goes through several stages of consideration. It is given a [[reading (legislature)|first reading]], which represents the bill's formal introduction into the chamber.

<blockquote>The first reading is followed by debate on the principle or policy of the bill (the second reading debate). Agreement to the bill in principle is indicated by a second reading, after which the detailed provisions of the bill are considered by one of a number of methods (see below). Bills may also be referred by either House to their specialised standing or select committees. Agreement to the policy and the details is confirmed by a third and final reading. These processes ensure that a bill is systematically considered before being agreed to.<ref>Australian Senate, [http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/briefs/brief08.htm 'The Senate and Legislation'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924114919/http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/briefs/brief08.htm |date=24 September 2008 }}, ''Senate Brief'', No. 8, 2008, Department of the Senate, Canberra.</ref></blockquote>
The Senate has detailed rules in its standing orders that govern how a bill is considered at each stage.<ref>Australian Senate, [http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/guides/briefno09.htm 'Consideration of legislation'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926083250/http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/guides/briefno09.htm |date=26 September 2008 }}, ''Brief Guides to Senate Procedure'', No. 9, Department of the Senate, Canberra.</ref> This process of consideration can vary greatly in the amount of time taken. Consideration of some bills is completed in a single day, while complex or controversial legislation may take months to pass through all stages of Senate scrutiny. The Constitution provides that if the Senate vote is equal, the question shall pass in the negative.<ref name="Con23">{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|coaca430|Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act|23}}</ref>