Making Government Bills Understandable: Simplifying Legal Jargon for Citizens with AI ChatGPT

What is your government up to?

Government bills and legal documents are not only too complex for the average person to understand but also time-consuming to navigate, making it difficult for citizens to stay informed and make decisions. AI can help by simplifying the language and saving time, making these documents more accessible to the public.

These bills tackle important issues in Canada, like public safety, economic affordability, corporate transparency, and healthcare access. Each has its pros and cons, reflecting the ongoing debate about the balance between government control, individual freedoms, and societal welfare. Similar efforts in other countries have had mixed results, so it's crucial to carefully consider these bills to avoid unintended consequences.

In this article, I’ll show you an introduction on how to use ChatGPT prompts to find and evaluate recent Canadian bills, assessing their impact from a historical and political perspective and their effect on individual freedoms. The goal is to provide a clear, unbiased overview of each bill, making it easier for the public to understand new legislation.

Try running the prompt below from "Legislative Summary" to "Methodology" on ChatGPT.

Legislative Summary: Summarize the key points of the last five bills nearing passage in the Canadian Parliament. Include a brief overview of each bill's purpose and intended outcomes in plain English. Include direct hyperlink for each bill.

For each bill do the following:

Sponsor Information: Identify the sponsor of each bill, including their name and political party affiliation.

Current Status and Voting Breakdown: Describe the current legislative status of each bill (e.g., passed, under review). Detail how different political parties have voted on each bill, including support percentages for each party. Include Dates.

Impact Analysis: For each bill, analyze the potential impacts, including: Pros: Benefits and positive outcomes expected from the bill. Cons: Drawbacks, limitations, or potential negative consequences. Compare these impacts with historical precedents and similar legislation in Canada or globally.

Freedom Impact Assessment: Evaluate the effect of each bill on individual freedoms, considering: Positive impacts on personal and economic freedoms. Neutral impacts where applicable. Negative impacts, including potential restrictions or limitations.

Historical Political Spectrum Analysis: Assess each bill's alignment with historical political ideologies, specifically: Communism: Degree of alignment with communist principles. Fascism: Degree of alignment with fascist principles. Provide percentage estimates of how each bill fits within these ideological frameworks.

Summary of Historical Impact: Discuss the worst historical impacts of similar bills, focusing on outcomes from comparable legislation in the past, both within Canada and internationally.

Methodology: Utilize official parliamentary documents and resources for accurate bill texts and voting records. Include analysis from political and legal experts to interpret the bills' implications. Sources: Historical data and case studies related to similar legislation.

If you want information on a particular bill you can change the Legislative Summary prompt to:

Legislative Summary: Summarize the key points of "Bill C-11: Broadcasting Act Update" in the Canadian Parliament. Include a brief overview of each bill's purpose and intended outcomes in plain English. Include direct hyperlink for each bill.

ChatGPT is contextual, meaning you can ask follow-up questions without needing to restate the original topic. For example, you might ask about the key points of contention for the bill being discussed.

What are the key points of disagreement between the parties concerning Bill C-11: Broadcasting Act Update?

Conclusion

In an era where legal and governmental complexities can overwhelm the average citizen, the use of AI tools like ChatGPT offers a promising solution for simplifying and understanding important legislative documents. By making these documents more accessible, AI empowers individuals to engage more deeply with the laws that shape their lives, fostering a more informed and active citizenry. As we continue to explore the integration of AI in this context, it’s crucial to ensure that these tools remain impartial, accurate, and effective, ultimately contributing to a more transparent and participatory democracy.