Royal Consent is among the unwritten rules and customs of the Senate and the House of Commons. Bills affecting the prerogatives, hereditary revenues, personal property or interest of the Sovereign require Royal Consent. It may be given at any stage of the legislative process until the question is submitted to the Senate or the House of Commons for the third reading and adoption of a bill. Royal Consent may be signified by special communication by the Governor General, but is generally communicated verbally by a Minister of the Crown. Royal Consent does not signify the approval of the proposed measures; it indicates the Crown’s agreement to allow the two Houses of Parliament to consider the bill.

Compiled by the Journals Branch of the House of Commons, updated by the Library.