In the legal system of most countries there are different types of laws. The so-called ordinary law is one in which there are no special procedures for its approval.
It is supposed to be a rule of legal rank that requires a simple procedure for its final enactment. Above the ordinary laws there are general laws, that is, organic laws.
The general procedure for drafting an ordinary law
The approval of an ordinary law presents different stages: an initiative, a discussion, a sanction and finally an enactment.
The proposal of an ordinary law normally begins in the chambers of the legislative power, that is, the group of representatives of the people. On the other hand, the president of a nation usually has the power to propose these types of laws. In some cases, the supreme courts or popular initiative also have the possibility of promoting this type of legal norm.
Once its processing has begun, the ordinary bill has to be debated article by article by the members of the parliament of a nation through a specialized commission.
When the content of the ordinary law has already been agreed, it must be sanctioned, that is, it must be approved by the representatives of popular sovereignty.
Finally, the ordinary law must be promulgated in the official state gazette so that it can be complied with. Said promulgation incorporates the signature of the highest authority of a nation.
Differences between organic laws and ordinary laws
Laws are passed by national parliaments. Organic laws are those that refer to fundamental rights and public freedoms and are normally included in the constitutional text of a nation. To be approved, organic laws generally require an absolute majority of the houses of representatives. On the other hand, ordinary laws are all those that can be approved by a simple majority, such as the budget law, tax laws or those that are related to civil proceedings.
An ordinary law cannot modify the content of an organic law, since between the two there is a principle of hierarchy. On the other hand, all ordinary law develops content already established in an organic law.
In short, organic laws have a structural nature in the legal framework and ordinary laws are proposed to deal with specific situations that do not affect the foundations of the state.
Photo: Fotolia - Valerii Zan
