Backbencher
A Backbencher is a Member who holds no official
position in government or in his or her party.
Back benchers sit on the back benches in the Chamber.
Backwoodsman
Backwoodsman was a term sometimes used to describe
a Peer who was seldom present in the House of
Lords.
When there was a very important vote in the House
of Lords, political parties tried to encourage
those that supported them to turn up for the division,
including those who rarely attended the House.
Ballot
A ballot is the term often used in connection
with parliamentary elections. It simply means
a vote. In the UK ballots are secret - no one
knows who votes for whom.
At an election voters put a cross next to the
candidate they have chosen on a ballot paper.
They then fold the paper and put it into a ballot
box. The ballot box is not opened until all the
votes are collected.
The Bar of the House
The Bar of the House is the name given to a white
line across the width of the Chamber of the House
of Commons and to a rail in the House of Lords,
marking their boundaries.
MPs are called to the bar of the House of Lords
at the Opening of Parliament and to hear the Royal
Assent to Acts of Parliament. They are not allowed
beyond this point when the House is sitting.
In the House of Commons, Members of the House
of Lords and the public are not allowed beyond
the bar when the House is sitting.
Bi-cameral system
A bi-cameral system is a parliamentary system
of two legislative chambers. The British system
is bi-cameral because both the House of Lords
and the House of Commons are involved in the process
of making new laws. Bi-cameral means literally
'two chamber'.
Big Ben
Big Ben is the bell in the Clock Tower at
the Houses of Parliament. The name is often incorrectly
used for the Clock Tower itself.
The bell was cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
in 1858, and is said to be named after Benjamin
Hall, who was the Commissioner of Works at the
time.
The bell strikes the note E. The chimes of the
bell are famous around the world, and it is the
bell of Big Ben that is broadcast on New Year's
Eve.
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was a declaration of Rights
presented by the House of Commons to William and
Mary before they replaced James II on the throne.
Parliament wanted to reduce the rights of the
Monarch and increase its own authority. As James
II had no children, the invitation to William
and Mary to inherit the Monarchy was a perfect
opportunity to do this.
The Bill of Rights made illegal the suspension
of laws by Royal authority without Parliament’s
consent; the power to dispense with laws; the
establishment of special courts of law; levying
money by Royal prerogative without Parliament’s
consent; and a standing army in peacetime without
Parliament's consent. It also asserted a right
to petition the sovereign, freedom of parliamentary
elections, freedom of speech in parliamentary
debates, and the necessity of frequent parliaments.
Black Rod
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is more usually
known simply as Black Rod. He is known to the
public for the important role he plays in the
ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament, when
he is sent to the House of Commons to summon MPs
to the House of Lords to hear the Queen's Speech.
It is traditional that as he reaches the chamber
of the House of Commons, the door is slammed in
his face. He then knocks three times on the door
with the black rod that he carries before being
admitted.
Black Rod is responsible for accommodation, security
and services in the House of Lords. He has a chair
in the House of Lords and wears a distinctive
black costume. His role is almost equivalent to
that of the Serjeant at Arms in the House of Commons.
Budget
The Budget statement is the annual estimate of
revenue and expenditure presented by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer to the House of Commons. The
budget has been presented on a Wednesday following
Prime Minister's Questions since 2001. Prior to
that, Budgets were usually presented on Tuesdays,
though they can occur on any day.
Budgets are traditionally presented in the Spring
but from 1993 to 1996 they were in November.
By-election
A by-election occurs when a seat in the House
of Commons becomes vacant during the lifetime
of a Parliament (i.e. between general elections)
because the sitting MP dies, resigns, is elevated
to the peerage, or becomes ineligible to sit for
some other reason.
If a vacancy occurs when the House is in session,
the Chief Whip of the Party that formerly held
the seat moves a Motion for a new writ. This leads
to the by-election taking place. Prior notice
does not have to be given in the Order Paper of
the House.
There is no time limit in which a new writ has
to be issued, although by convention it is usually
done within three months of a seat becoming vacant.
There have been times when seats have remained
empty for more than six months before a by-election
was called. The sitting party will obviously choose
a time when they feel confident of success. Seats
are often left vacant towards the end of a Parliament
to be filled at the General Election though this
is not always the case and by-elections have sometimes
occurred just before the dissolution of Parliament.
While a vacancy exists a member of the same party
in a neighbouring constituency handles constituency
matters. When the new Member is elected in the
by-election, all outstanding matters are handed
back.
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