The Monarchs Royal Assent

In Canada, royal assent is the symbolic final stage of the legislative process by which a bill becomes law.   History of Royal Assent The  Constitution Act of 1867 established that the approval of the Crown, signified by royal assent, is required for any bill to become law after passage by both the Senate and the House of Commons, which are the two chambers of Parliament. Royal assent is the final stage of the legislative process, and it is this assent that transforms a bill passed by both Houses of Parliament into law. Once royal assent has been given to a bill, it becomes an Act of Parliament and part of the law of Canada. In addition to being a required part of the legislative process, royal assent has strong symbolic significance in Canada. This is because royal assent signifies the coming together of the three constitutional elements of Parliament: the House of Commons, the Senate and the Crown.   The Royal Assent Process Royal assent may be given through a written procedure or through a  traditional ceremony, in which Members of the House of Commons join their colleagues in the Senate chamber. In the traditional royal assent ceremony, a representative of the   Crown, either the  governor-general of Canada  or a  Supreme Court justice, enters the Senate chamber, where the senators are in their seats. The  Usher of the Black Rod  summons members of the House of Commons to the Senate chamber, and members of both houses of Parliament witness that Canadians wish the bill to become law. This traditional ceremony must be used at least two times per year. The representative of the sovereign consents to the enactment of a bill  by nodding his or her head. Once this royal assent is officially given, the bill has the force of law, unless it contains another date on which it will go into effect. The bill itself is sent to Government House to be signed. Once signed, the original bill is returned to the Senate, where it is put into the archives.