"proyectos de ley"

Question

The translator gives me "bills" as in legal bills. Is anyone here knowledgeable about English legal terminology?

I suspect the translation might be "Acts" when dealing with English law but I'm not sure. Thanks

Answer 1

¡Hola!, Birdland:

Your profile states that you are a Scot and I am guessing you have a strong command of the English language.

The thing about a "bill" that you seem to be overlooking is that a "bill" is what English calls a proposed law while it is in it's draft condition being proposed through a legislative body such as parliament. in British common law, once a "bill" is "passed" or "approved" by the legislative body and, under British common law, receives Royal assent, it becomes a "law" and is no longer a "bill".

The term "bill" is also used in the U.S. to refer to a "Bill of Rights" which I suppose could be a reference to a collection of entitlements that people have under the U.S. constitution. I'm a Canadian and this particular paragraph may not have been well or properly stated but I hope you get the idea.

I suggest that it is in the context of a bill as proposed law or as in Bill of Rights that the term "proyecto de ley" is used.

Muchos saludos/Best regards,

Moe

In the USA, "bills" are proposed laws in congress, like in the UK. - pesta, Oct 21, 2010

Answer 2

Thanks Moe, very useful answer. It seems then that the key to the difference between a "bill" and a "law" is the procedural element, it's current status. I was unaware of that. Thanks a lot. Very helpful.