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See also:PARLIAMENT (Anglo-See also:Lat. parliamentum, Fr. See also:parlement, from parler, to speak) , the name given to the supreme legislature of the See also:United See also:Kingdom of See also:Great See also:Britain and See also:Ireland. (For the old See also:French parlement, see PARLEMENT; and for analogous See also:foreign assemblies see the articles on their respective countries.) The word is found in See also:English from the 13th See also:century, first for a debate, then for a formal See also:conference, and for the great See also:councils of the See also:Plantagenet See also:kings; and the See also:modern sense has come to be applied retrospectively. See also: & Mary, 32). The See also:present statute See also:law merely exacts the meeting of parliament once in three years; but the annual voting of supplies has See also:long since superseded obsolete statutes. When parliament is assembled it cannot proceed to business until the king has declared the causes of summons, in See also:person or by See also:commission; and though the See also:veto of the Crown on legislation has long been obsolete, bills passed by the two houses only become law on receiving the royal assent. The House of Lords is distinguished by See also:peculiar dignities, privileges and jurisdictions. Peers individually enjoy the rank and See also:precedence of their several dignities, and are hereditary councillors of the Crown. Collectively with the lords spiritual they See also:form a permanent council of the Crown; and, when assembled in parliament, they form the highest See also:court of judicature in the See also:realm, and are (in constitutional theory at all events) a co-equal See also:branch of the legislature, without whose consent no See also:laws can be made (see below, House of Lords Question). Their judicature is of various kinds, viz. for the trial of peers; for determining claims of See also:peerage and offices of See also:honour, under references from the Crown; for the trial of controverted elections of Scotch and Irish peers; for the final determination of appeals from courts in England, See also:Scotland and Ireland; and lastly, for the trial of impeachments. The House of Commons also has its own peculiar privileges and jurisdictions. Above all, it has the See also:paramount right of originating the See also:imposition of all taxes, and the granting of supplies for the service of the See also:state. It has also enjoyed, from See also:early times, the right of determining all matters concerning the Or rather, the representatives of the Commons (see REPxEsEe- Parliamentary See also:Procedure.—It will be convenient here to See also:sketch the See also:general lines of procedure. On the See also:day appointed by royal See also:proclamation for the meeting of a new parliament both houses assemble in their respective See also:chambers, when the Lords Commissioners for opening the parliament summon the Commons to the See also:bar of the House of Lords, by the mouth of See also:Black See also:Rod, to hear the commission read. The See also:lord See also:chancellor states that, when the members of both houses shall be sworn, the king will declare the causes of his calling this parliament; and, it being necessary that a See also:Speaker of the House of Commons shall be first chosen, the Commons are directed to proceed to the See also:appointment of a Speaker, and to present him, on the following day, for His See also:Majesty's royal approbation. The Commons at once withdraw to their own house and proceed to the election of their Speaker. The next day the Speaker-elect proceeds, with the house, to the House of Lords, and, on receiving the royal approbation, See also:lays claim, in the accustomed form, on behalf of the Commons, " to their See also:ancient and undoubted rights and privileges." The Speaker, now fully confirmed, returns to the House of Commons, and, after repeating his acknowledgments, reminds the house that the first thing to be done is to take and subscribe the See also:oath required by law. Having first taken the oath himself, he is followed by other members, who come to the table to be sworn. The See also:swearing of members in both houses proceeds from day to day, until the greater number have taken the oath, or See also:affirmation, when the causes of summons are declared by His Majesty in person, or by commission, in " the King's speech." This speech being considered in both houses, an Address (q.v.) in See also:answer is agreed to, which is presented to His Majesty by the whole house, or by " the lords with See also: Members claim to be heard in debate by rising in their places. When more than one member rises at the same time, in the Lords the member who is to speak is called by the house, in the Commons by the Speaker. Every member, when called, is See also:bound to speak to the question before the house; and calls to See also:order are very frequent. A member may speak once only to any question, except to explain, or upon a point of order, or to reply when a member has himself submitted a motion to the house, or when an amendment has been moved which constitutes a new question. He may not refer to past debates, nor to debates in the other house; nor may he refer to any other member by name, or use offensive and disorderly See also:language against the king, either House of Parliament, or other members. Members offending against any of the rules of debate are called to order bythe Speaker, or the See also:attention of the chair is directed to the See also:breach of order by another member. Order is generally enforced by the authority of the chair; but in extreme cases, and especially when obstruction is being practised, the offending member is named by the Speaker, and suspended by an order of the house, or otherwise punished at the discretion of the house. At the conclusion of a debate, unless the motion be withdrawn, or the question (on being put from the chair) be agreed to or negatived, the house proceeds to a division, which effects the two-See also:fold purpose of ascertaining the See also:numbers supporting and opposing the question, and of recording the names of members voting on either See also:side. On each side of the house is a division See also:lobby; and in the Lords the " contents " and in the Commons the " ayes " are directed to go to the right, and the " not contents " or " noes " to the See also:left. The former pass into the right lobby, at the back of the Speaker's chair, and return to the house through the bar; the latter pass into the left lobby, at the bar, and return at the back of the chair. The opposing parties are thus kept entirely clear of one another. In each lobby there are two members acting as tellers, who See also:count the members as they pass, and two division clerks who take down their names. After the division the four tellers advance to the table, and the numbers are reported by one of the tellers for the See also:majority. In case of an equality of numbers, in the Lords the question is negatived in virtue of the ancient rule " See also:semper praesumitur See also:pro negante "; in the Commons the Speaker gives the casting See also:vote. Committees of the Whole House.—For the See also:sake of convenience in the transaction of business there are several kinds of committees. Of these the most important is a See also:committee of the whole. house, which, as it consists of the entire See also:body of members, can scarcely be accounted a committee. It is presided over by a chairman, who sits in the clerk's chair at the table, the See also:mace, which represents the authority of the house itself, being for the time placed under the table. In this committee are discussed the several provisions of bills, resolutions and other matters requiring the consideration of details. To facilitate discussion, members are allowed to speak any number of times to the same question; otherwise the proceedings are similar to those of the house itself. In the Lords the chair is taken by the chairman of committees; and in the Commons by the chairman of the committee of ways and means, or in his See also:absence by any other member. The quorum of such a committee is the same as that of the house itself. It reports from time to time to the house, but has no See also:power of adjournment. See also:Grand and See also:Standing Committees.—In the House of Commons there were formerly four grand committees, viz. for See also:religion, for grievances, for courts of See also:justice, and for See also:trade. They were founded upon the valuable principle of a See also:distribution of labours among several bodies of members; but, having fallen into disuse, they were discontinued in 1832. The ancient committee of privileges, in which " all who come are to have voices," is still appointed at the commencement of every session, but is rarely called into See also:action, as it has been found more convenient to appoint a select committee to inquire into any question of privilege as it arises. In 1882 a partial revival of grand committees was effected by the appointment of two standing committees for the consideration of bills See also:relating to law and courts of justice and to trade; and grand committees have since been considerably extended. Select Committees.—In select committees both houses find the means of delegating inquiries, and the consideration of other matters, which could not be undertaken by the whole house. The reports of such committees have formed the groundwork of many important See also:measures; and bills are often referred to them which receive a See also:fuller examination than could be expected in a committee of the whole house. Power is given to such committees, when required, to send for persons, papers and records. In the Lords the power of examining witnesses upon oath has always been exercised, but it was not until 1871 that the same power was extended to the Commons, by statute. Communications between the Two Houses.—In the course of the proceedings of parliament. frequent communications between the two houses become necessary. Of these the most usual and convenient form is that of a See also:message. Formerly the Lords sent a message by two See also:judges or two masters in See also:chancery, and the Commons by a deputation of their own members; but since 1855 messages have been taken from one house to the other by one of the clerks at the table. A more formal communication is effected by a conference, in reference to amendments to bills or other matters; but this proceeding has been in great measure superseded by the more See also:simple form of a message. The two houses are also occasionally brought into communication by means of See also:joint committees and of select committees communicating with each other. Communications between the Crown and Parliament.—Communications, in various forms, are also conducted between the Crown and both Houses of Parliament. Of these the most important are those in which the king, in person or by commission, is present in the House of Lords to open or prorogue parliament, or to give the royal assent to bills. His Majesty is then in See also:direct communication with the three estates of the realm, assembled in the same chamber. The king also sends messages to both houses under the royal sign See also:manual, when all the members are uncovered. Verbal messages are also sent, and the king's See also:pleasure, or royal recommendation or consent to bills or other matters, signified through a See also:minister of the Crown or a privy councillor. Messages under the sign manual are acknowledged by addresses, except where grants of See also:money are proposed, in which case no address is presented by the Commons, who acknowledge them by making See also:provision accordingly. Both houses approach the Crown, sometimes by joint addresses, but usually by See also:separate addresses from each house. Such addresses are presented to His Majesty, either by the whole house, or by the lords with white staves in one house and by privy councillors in the other. His Majesty answers, in person, addresses presented by the whole house; but, when presented otherwise, an answer is brought by one of the lords with white staves, or by one of the privy councillors, by whom the address has been presented. Resolutions of either house are also sometimes directed to be laid before His Majesty; and messages of congratulation or condolence are sent to other members of the royal See also:family. The Passing of Public Bills.—The passing of bills forms the most considerable See also:part of the business of parliament; but a brief See also:notice will suffice to explain the methods of procedure. These are substantially the same in both houses; but the privileges of the Commons, in regard to supply and See also:taxation, require that all bills imposing a See also:charge upon the people should originate in that house. On the other See also:hand, the Lords claim that bills for restoration of honours or in See also:blood, or relating to their own privileges and See also:jurisdiction, should commence in their house. An See also:act of See also:grace, or general See also:pardon, originates with the Crown, and is read once only in both houses. Bills are divided into public and private; but here the former only are referred to. In the Lords any peer is entitled to present a bill, but in the Commons a member is required to obtain the previous leave of the house to bring in the bill; and, in the case of bills relating to religion, trade, grants of public money, or charges upon the subject, a preliminary committee is necessary before such leave will be given. A bill, when presented, is read a first time, and ordered to be printed; and a day is appointed for the second reading. At this latter See also:stage the principle of the bill is discussed; and, if disapproved of by an adverse vote, the bill is lost and cannot be renewed during the same session. If approved of, it is usually committed to a committee of the whole house, where every provision is open to debate and amendment. When the bill has been fully considered it is reported to the house, with or without amendments, and is ready to pass through its remaining stages. Sometimes, however, the bill is first referred to a select committee; or to a grand committee and not to committee of the whole house. When a bill has been reported from a committee of the whole house, or from a standing committee, with amendments, the bill, as amended, is ordered to be considered on a future day, when further amendments may be made, or the bill may be recommitted. The next and last stage is the third reading, when the principle of the measure, and its amended provisions, are open to See also:review. Even at this stage the bill may be lost; but if the third reading be agreed to, it is at once passed and sent to the other house. There it is open to the like discussions and amendments, and may be rejected. If returned without amendment, the bill merely awaits the royal assent; but if returned with amendments, such amendments must be agreed to, or otherwise adjusted by the two houses, before it can be submitted for the royal assent. The royal assent consummates the See also:work of legislation, and converts the bill into an act of parliament.
Petitions.—Both houses are approached by the people by means of petitions, of which prodigious numbers are presented to the House of Commons every session. They are referred to the committee on public petitions, under whose directions they are classified, analysed, and the number of signatures counted; and, when necessary, the petitions are printed in extenso.
Parliamentary Papers.—Another source of See also:information is found in parliamentary papers. These are of various kinds. The greater part are obtained either by a direct order of the house itself, or by an address to the Crown for documents relating to matters in which the prerogatives of the Crown are concerned. Other papers, relating to foreign and colonial affairs and other public matters, are presented to both houses by command of His Majesty. Again, many papers are annually presented in pursuance of acts of parliament.
The Granting of Supplies.—The exclusive right of the Commons to See also: It is here that the annual See also:financial statement of the chancellor of the See also:exchequer, commonly known as " the See also:Budget," is delivered. The resolutions of these committees are reported to the house, and, when agreed to, form the See also:foundation of bills, to be passed by both houses, and submitted for the royal assent; and towards the close of the session an See also:Appropriation Act is passed, applying all the grants for the service of the year. Elections.—The extensive jurisdiction of the Commons in matters of election, already referred to, formerly occupied a considerable See also:share of their time, but its exercise has now been contracted within narrow limits. Whenever a vacancy occurs during the continuance of a parliament, a See also:warrant for a new See also:writ is issued by the Speaker, by order of the house during the session, and in pursuance of statutes during the See also:recess. The causes of vacancies are the See also:death of a member, his being called to the House of Peers, his See also:acceptance of an See also:office from the Crown, or his See also:bankruptcy. When any doubt arises as to the issue of a writ, it is usual to appoint a committee to inquire into the circumstances of the case; and during the recess the Speaker may reserve doubtful cases for the determination of the house. Controverted elections had been originally tried by select committees, afterwards by the committee of privileges and elections, and ultimately by the whole house, with scandalous partiality, but under the See also:Grenville Act of 1970, and other later acts, by select committees, so constituted as to form a more judicial tribunal. The See also:influence of party See also:bias, however, too obviously prevailed until 1839, when See also:Sir See also:Robert See also:Peel introduced an improved See also:system of nomination, which distinctly raised the See also:character of election committees; but a tribunal constituted of See also:political partisans, how-ever chosen, was still open to See also:jealousy and suspicion, and at length, in 1868, the trial of election petitions was transferred to judges of the See also:superior courts, to whose determination the house gives effect, by the issue of new writs or otherwise. The house, however, still retains and exercises its jurisdiction in all cases not relegated, by statute, to the judges. Impeachments and Trial of Peers.—Other forms of parliamentary judicature still remain to be mentioned. Upon impeachments by the Commons, the Lords exercise the highest criminal judicature known to the law; but the occasions upon which it has been brought into action have been very rare in modern times. Another judicature is that of the trial of peers by the House of Lords. And, lastly, by a bill of See also:attainder, the entire parliament may be called to sit in judgment upon offenders. Private Bill Legislation.—One other important See also:function of parliament remains to be noticed—that of private bill legislation. Here the duties of parliament are partly legislative and partly judicial. Public interests are promoted, and private rights secured. This whole jurisdiction has been regulated by See also:special standing orders, and by elaborate arrangements for the nomination of capable and impartial committees. A prodigious legislative work has been accomplished—but under conditions most costly to the promoters and opponents of private bills, and involving a serious addition to the onerous labours of members of parliament. Additional information and CommentsThere are no comments yet for this article.
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