second reading

noun

Updated on: 26 May 2018

Definition of second reading

1 : the stage in the British legislative process following the first reading and usually providing for debate on the principal features of a bill before its submission to a committee for consideration of details

2 : the stage in the U.S. legislative process that occurs when a bill has been reported back from committee and that provides an opportunity for full debate and amendment before a vote is taken on the question of a third reading

Recent Examples of second reading from the Web

Alderman Mike Miller was not present during the second reading, but voted no at the first reading.

— evan frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'It's about public safety': Oconomowoc will require pit bulls to be muzzled after all," 16 May 2018
But Trustee Rita Minx had called for a second reading of this ordinance to be waived.

— genevieve bookwalter, chicagotribune.com, "Morton Grove approves staging site for pipes as construction of water main gets set to start," 27 Apr. 2018
According to the National Assembly, the senate was able to pass six bills for a second reading that afternoon.

— adam taylor, Washington Post, "Intruders thought stealing a giant gold mace would disrupt Nigeria’s parliament. It didn’t work.," 19 Apr. 2018
The second reading will be on May 21, when the council will decide whether or not to annex the property.

— mayra cruz, Houston Chronicle, "Tomball moves forward on plans to annex 375 acres; seeks feedback on projects," 3 Apr. 2018
The City Council can approve the Peoples Map by ordinance at its next meeting on April 11, with a second reading scheduled for April 25.

— karen pearlman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Santee chooses map for by-district voting," 31 Mar. 2018
Oceanside’s ordinance will return to the City Council for a routine second reading at the April 11 meeting, and will become effective 30 days after that.

— phil diehl, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Oceanside OKs commercial medical cannabis cultivation," 29 Mar. 2018
So was Smith, as a second reading of his story all these years later makes clear.

— erik spanberg, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Basketball' is a fast-break compilation that goes from from the beginning to Stephen Curry," 12 Mar. 2018
As of yesterday, two of the bills had already passed a second reading in the Senate unanimously.

— gary miller, Newsweek, "Blockchain Valley: Wyoming Is Poised To Become the Cryptocurrency Capital of America," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'second reading.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.