Differentiate between Bill and Act?

Asked 29-Jan-2020
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Difference between Bill, Law, Act and Ordinances
Bill
In simple terms, it is a draft proposed legislation that is presented for discussion in Parliament. Once the bill is approved by Parliament, it becomes an act or a statute. However, not all bills become enactments.
A 'Bill' can be considered as the initial stage of an Act. It is proposed to enact a new law. Usually, the Bill is in the form of a document that describes what is the policy behind the proposed legislation and what is the proposed law.
A bill can be introduced by the government itself or proposed by a member of parliament. The Bill is placed in the lower house of Parliament and once it is passed after discussion, the bill goes to the higher house for approval. Once the bill is passed by the Upper House, the President is sent for his assent.

Law
In general, the word 'law' refers to following rules or rules. Law can be in the form of an act, ordinance, order, bye-law, rule, regulation etc.
Whatever is the power to confer legal rights, obligations, liabilities etc. are laws. The law can be any of the lawful enactments passed by the legislature, the Act and the code of pre-independent India. Ordinances passed by the President of a State or of India, decisions of High Courts or Supreme Court, Authorized orders, are notices rules made by Government bodies.
Act
An Act is called a bill before it is passed by Parliament. After the enactment of this Act, it may apply to the whole country or some areas of the country. Once this act is implanted, it can only be changed or repealed by passing another act. Therefore, an act can either create a new law or change an existing law.

Ordinance
Ordinances are temporary laws that are circulated by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet. They can be distributed only when Parliament is not in session. They enable the Government of India to take immediate legislative action.
Many times, when the legislature is not in session and in emergency there is a need to enact a law (act). In such cases the government refers to a resolution of the President or Governor, and if they approve them, it becomes an ordinance. Legally, an ordinance is equivalent to an act. It can be seen as a temporary law until its expiration or it is repealed or approved by the legislature.

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The various legislative proposals are brought before either House of the Parliament in the form of a bill. A bill is nothing but the draft of a legislative proposal, which when passed by both houses of Parliament and assented or approved to by the President, becomes an Act of Parliament.

Thus, a bill may be introduced in the Parliament either by ministers or private members.

However, it is to be noted that there are three stages or readings that a bill has to pass through to become an act in the Parliament.

On the other hand, an Act is a law which is made by the legislature like Parliament or State Legislative Assembly and already approved by the President.

Thus, in other words, we can say that an Act is a bill that has already been passed by the Parliament and approved by the President whereas, the bill is the starting of the Act.