Conduct of debates in the Commons

Parliamentary procedure is based on custom and precedent, partly codified by each House in its Standing Orders. The system of debate is similar in both Houses. Every subject starts off as a proposal or 'motion' made by a member.

During debates in the House of Commons all speeches are addressed to the Speaker or one of the Deputy Speakers. MPs speak from wherever they have been sitting and not from a rostrum, although front-bench members usually stand at one of the despatch boxes on the Table of the House. MPs may not read their speeches, although they may refresh their memories by referring to notes. In general, no MP may speak twice to the same motion, except to clarify part of a speech that has been misunderstood or 'by leave of the House'.

At the end of the debate the Speaker 'puts the question' whether to agree with the motion or not. The question may be decided without voting, or by a simple majority vote. Voting is supervised by the Speaker, who announces the result. However, if MPs wish to 'divide the House', which generally happens on more controversial votes, then a division is held. MPs have to file through one of two lobbies, one for the Ayes to vote yes, one for the Noes to vote no. The numbers going through each lobby are counted and the result given to the Speaker by the 'tellers' (MPs appointed to supervise the vote).

The most important privilege in Parliament is that of freedom of speech, as MPs cannot be prosecuted for sedition or sued for libel or slander over anything said during proceedings in the House. This enables them to raise in the House questions affecting the public good which might be difficult to raise outside owing to the possibility of being sued. The House of Lords has similar privileges.

Task 3. Check yourself questions:

1. Where does UK Parliament sit?

2. What is the composition of the House of Commons?

3. What is the composition of the House of Lords?

4. What is the role of the Speaker?

5. What is the role of Lord Chancellor?

6. Who is actually elected during the General Election?

7. Who are party whips?

8. How does a Bill become an Act of Parliament?

9. Who sits to the right of the speaker?

10. Who sits to the left of the Speaker?

11. Where does the Speaker live?

12. What are traditions connected with Parliament?

13. What are the relations between the Legislative and the Executive branches of political power in Britain?

14. On what occasion does the Queen appear in Parliament?

15. Through which tower entrance does the Queen come into Parliament?

Task 4. Do you think you know everything about Parliament?Try this quiz and learn more curious facts. Circle the letters that correspond to the answers you think are correct. All the circled letters, unscrambled, spell out something to do with British politics.

1. Who will choose the date of the next general election?

F) The Queen G) The people H) The Prime Minister

2. You want to stand for Parliament. How old must you be?

S) 21 N) 18 U) 25

3. What educational qualifications must a parliamentary candidate have?

1. 5 GCSEs E) A college diploma or University degree

O) No formal qualifications required

4. Who is the Speaker?

F) An MP whose job is to keep order in the House of Commons. He or she cannot participate in debates.

K) The person, not an MP, who decided which MP may speak next in a debate.

M) The MP who makes the longest speech during a debate.

5. Who is the Father of the House?

A) The Prime Minister I) The oldest MP

O) The MP who has the longest period of unbroken service

6. What does it mean when there is an electric light shining on top of Big Ben?

L) The House of Commons is in session

M) The Prime Minister is in the House of Commons

N) A parliamentary debate is about to end

6. What is the parliamentary guillotine?

E) A type of letter opener

O) A relic of the French Revolution, displayed in the House of Commons

U) A procedure used to limit debating time on a Bill

6. What is the Cabinet?

P) The party in opposition to the government headed by the Prime Minister

R) A group of the ministers of the government, appointed by the Prime Minister

T) A room in 10 Downing Street reserved for important meetings.

6. Why are two collapsible top hats kept in the chamber of the House of Commons?

O) All MPs must sit on a hat during the opening ceremony of the House of Commons. The hats are spare ones, in case anyone forgets to bring one

I) An PM must wave a hat before he/she speaks to the House

E) There is a tradition that if a male MP wants to raise a point of order while a vote is being taken, he must wear a hat.

10. Why is the door of the House of Commons slammed in the face of Black Rod during the State opening of Parliament?

S) To remind about the events preceding the Civil war in Britain.

L) To demonstrate MP’s unwillingness to go to the House of Lords.

D) Not to let the Black Rod into the House of Commons.

11. Who are backbenchers?

1. Senior MPs, chief advisers to the Prime Minister

5. Journalists who sit behind the MPs at the rear of the chamber

O) MPs who sit on the benches at the back of the chamber, who are neither ministers nor leading members of the ……

12. How many times a year does the Queen visit the House of Commons?

D) Never F) Once a year N) At least once a month

The answer is:

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