A bill can be submitted to the National Assembly by: • the Government • an MP • the
National Council • 5,000 voters The legislative procedure begins when the Speaker passes a bill to the MPs. There are three possible legislative procedures: • regular legislative procedure • abbreviated legislative procedure • urgent legislative procedure Bills are normally passed by a majority of the present MPs. If the Constitution demands a two-thirds majority (laws regulating electoral systems, referendums and constitutional laws which amend the Constitution), then at least 60 of the 90 MPs must vote for the bill for passage.
Regular legislative procedure First reading The first reading is completed with passing the bill to the MPs by the Speaker, unless ten MPs request a session of the assembly within 15 days to discuss reasons why bill was submitted. If the session is held, the assembly must vote on the resolution if the bill is appropriate for a further procedure. The Speaker determines a working body that will discuss the bill in the further procedure. Other bodies can also discuss the bill if there is such interest, however they cannot vote on it.
Second reading During the second reading bill is first discussed by the working body that can amend the bill and make a report on the bill which is the basis for the plenary of assembly. Working body discusses and votes on each article of the bill. Assembly later votes and discusses only the articles that were amended during the session of the working body. Assembly and working body can accept a resolution that the bill is not appropriate for a further procedure if not such resolution was accepted during the first reading.
Third reading In the third reading working body and assembly vote on the bill as a whole. If it is accepted the bill is sent to the President to sign it.
Shortened legislative procedure During shortened legislative procedure there is no first reading and the second and third readings are held at the same session. It can be applied for a bills that regulate minor matters, another law is abolished with the bill, if national laws have to be harmonised with
Acquis communautaire or when bill regulates procedures before the Constitutional Court or Constitutional Court order changes of the laws.
Urgent legislative procedure Bill can be passed under urgent procedure if it is important for the security or defence of the country, if it is addressing the consequences of natural disasters or it is proposed to prevent irreversible consequences for the country. There is no first reading, the second and third readings are held at the same session, amendments to the bill can be given orally and timeline of the procedure is shorter.
Suspensive veto Upon passage of a bill, the National Council can (within two weeks) veto it. An absolute majority of the National Assembly is required to override the veto. == List of speakers of the National Assembly ==