amendementstekst

Amendementstekst is the written text of an amendment proposed to a bill, law, or other legal act. It specifies the exact changes to be made to the existing text, such as insertions, deletions, or replacements, and is central to legislative revision.

Drafting an amendment text involves identifying the target provisions by article or paragraph, and presenting precise wording to replace or insert language. It may take the form of replacing an entire section, adding a new article, or deleting a clause, often framed as "Article X shall read: ..." or "The following paragraph is inserted: ..."

In parliamentary practice, amendment texts are circulated during debates and committee reviews. They are debated and subjected to votes, and may be adopted, rejected, or sent back for revision. If an amendment is adopted, its provisions become part of the final act; if rejected, the original text stands.

Amendment texts vary in scope. Substantive amendments change policy content; technical amendments adjust wording, cross-references, punctuation, or references to other laws. Drafts should be clear, non-contradictory, and consistent with constitutional provisions and existing law to avoid legal uncertainty.

Usage and terminology differ by jurisdiction. In Dutch practice, the term amendementstekst is standard; in English contexts it is simply "the amendment text." The amendment text is a fundamental tool for refining legislation and ensuring careful consideration of proposed changes.