Royal Assent

The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which the King or the Governor-General completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament.

When a bill is presented to the sovereign or her representative, they may grant assent to the bill or they may withhold assent. The Governor-General may also reserve the bill to be assented to by the King.

In modern constitutional practice, Royal Assent may not be withheld.

Ceremony

Royal assent is most commonly granted in writing by the Governor-General to the Speaker of the House of Commons, although the Governor-General or his or her deputy may attend Parliament in person to grant assent. This is traditionally done after the passage of the annual appropriations act.