How a law is made in the Congress

Pick the kind of initiative

• Government BillCreates lawA bill proposed by the Government. If passed, it becomes binding law.
• Private Member's BillCreates lawA bill proposed by a parliamentary group. If passed, it becomes binding law.
• Royal Decree-LawCreates lawA decree with force of law issued by the Government under urgency. Congress must ratify or repeal it within 30 days.
• Non-legislative motion (PNL)Doesn't create lawA non-binding proposal: it urges the Government to act but does not change the law. The most frequent floor vote.
• MotionDoesn't create lawAfter an interpellation to the Government, a group asks for a specific stance. Does not change the law.
• InterpellationDoesn't create lawAn urgent question from Congress to the Government on a political matter. Does not change the law.

Words you will see on the site

Amendment

A change a group proposes to a law's text. It is voted on separately: a rejected amendment does not mean a rejected law.

Amendment to the whole

Asks to send the bill back to the Government or replace its whole text. If the plenary passes it, the bill ends there; if not, it carries on.

Taking into consideration

The first vote on a member's bill: it decides whether Congress will work on it. Passing it does not make it law.

Whole-text vote

The final vote organic laws need (fundamental rights, electoral system...): 176 votes, an absolute majority.

Validation

Congress's vote on a royal decree-law: if validated it stays; if not, it is repealed and lapses.

Lapsed

An initiative that had not finished its passage when the Cortes were dissolved for an election. To go ahead, it has to be tabled again.