On Friday, lawmakers resumed readings of deeply controversial bills that would drastically expand legislative powers.

Divisive items that would give lawmakers the power to compel testimony.

And finer jail those who don't answer questions completely.

The bills are the work of two opposition parties, the Kuomintang, or KMT, and Taiwan People's Party, the TPP, who together form a majority.

The two parties are trying to push the bills through over stiff opposition from the Democratic Progressive Party.

And at times, the proceedings have taken a violent turn.

He came from behind and hit me.

I turned around.

I didn't see behind me, so I turned around.

I was self-defense.

He shot first, I defended myself.

Now it's popular.

Now it's popular.

Hit people, call people.

Civic groups say the way the legislators handled the bills goes against fair and normal procedures.

The lack of procedural justice in the enactment of these bills is even more worrying, as there has been no substantive room for serious review or civic participation or input.

Abiding by normal legislative procedures would have actually improved the quality of legislative reform and the prospects of implementation.

And thousands of people in Taiwan also have concerns.

Organizers of a Friday protest against the bills outside the legislature say 100,000 people turned out, and five other protests took place in other parts of the country.

We demand fair and just discussion.

We refuse to do the work of the Black House.

I'm most concerned about all the bills that are currently against the people, including the inability to hire a lawyer, and the inability to reject all legislators.

This is a bill that is passed by a legislator.

I think this is very unreasonable.

As long as the blue and white parties are united, any bill can be passed.

As long as we unite China, any bill can be passed.

No matter how hard the DPP tries, we still can't win.

Lawmakers are readying for the third reading, set for next week.

Protesters say they'll be there too, making their voices heard from outside the chamber.

Yixin Chen and Harrell Hughes for Taiwan Plus.