A Glossary of Parliamentary Words

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

Aa

absolute majority

More than half the total votes of all those eligible to vote; in a house of Parliament, one more than half the votes of the total number of members of the house, whether they are present or not, as opposed to a simple majority

accountable

able to be called on to explain ones actions. Ministers are accountable to Parliament for actions they take while in office

Act (of Parliament)

a law made by Parliament; a bill which has passed all three readings in each house and has received the certificate of the speaker. Note, an Act of Parliament may also be call a law, a statute or a piece of legislation

adjourn

to put off, postpone or defer

adjournment debate

a debate usually at the end of each sitting day of a house when members make speeches about any subject on the motion to end the sitting

appropriation bill

a bill which, when passed by Parliament, will allow the government to spend public revenue from the Treasury Fund

ayes

the collective vote of members in a house of Parliament who support a proposal

 

Bb

bicameral

Having two chambers or houses, especially of a law-making body (such as the Australian Federal Parliament, which has a lower house - the House of Representatives - and an upper House - the Senate. See also unicameral

bill

a proposal for a new law which has been presented to Parliament

budget

a plan placed before Parliament each year showing what money the government expects to receive (revenue) and how the government wants to spend it (expenditure)

by leave

with the permission of every member present in the chamber

by-election

a special election held to fill the seat of a Member of the House of Representatives who has died, resigned or vacated his seat

Cc

cabinet

the group of ministers appointed by the President

cabinet solidarity

a commitment by individual cabinet ministers to the position adopted by the majority of cabinet

casting vote

a vote exercised by the Speaker or certain committee chairs only when the votes for and against a proposal are equal

caucus

Members of parliament who are in Cabinet or who support government

Chair

1. the seat in which the presiding member sits in the chamber
2. the member presiding in the chamber or in a committee

chamber

The room in which sittings of Parliament are held

clause

a numbered provision in a bill. Once a bill becomes an Act, a clause is known as a section

Clerk

the senior permanent official of Parliament who advises on procedure and records the decisions of the house, and is the administrative head of the Parliament Secretariat

Clerks certificate

the statement signed by the Clerk of a house to state that a bill has been by Parliament; every bill must have a final Clerks certificate before it is presented to the Speaker for his certificate

committee of the whole

a committee consisting of all the members of the Houseusually formed to consider a bill in detail.

committee, parliamentary (see parliamentary committee)

common law

law based on custom or court decisions, as distinct from statute law

confidence

the support of more than half the members on the floor of the House

Congress (USA)

the national law-making body of the United States of America, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives

conscience vote (see free vote)

constituency

the electoral division or area, or the people in it, which a member of Parliament represents

constituent

someone who votes, or lives, in an electoral division or area which a member of Parliament represents

Constitution
the set of basic rules by which a country or state is governed

constitutional

1. having the power of, or existing because of, the laws set out in the Constitution
2. in agreement with, or depending on, the laws set out in the Constitution

contempt

disobedience to the authority or orders of the house, or interference with or obstruction of their work or the work of Members

 

Dd

debate

a formal discussion in the house on a bill or other topic in which different views are put to arrive at a decision

deliberative vote

a vote in Parliament which has as much value as any other vote, as opposed to a casting vote, held by the Speaker and some committee chairs

democracy

1. a way of governing a country in which the people elect representatives to form a government on their behalf
2. a country with such a government
3. the idea that everyone in a country has equal rights

determination

authoritative decision, rule or arrangement

dissolve the House

to bring to an end the life of the Parliament and make a new election necessary

disallowance

the vetoing of subsidiary legislation by the Parliament, which has the effect of repealing it

division

the separation of the members of a house of Parliament into two groups, for and against a proposal, so that their votes can be counted

 

Ee

estimates

the sums of money which the government proposes it will need to provide works and services during a financial year

executive

1. the branch of government which carries out or administers the laws
2. The President and Cabinet ministers who make policy and control government departments, and who are answerable to Parliament for the way they run the government

executive power

the power to administer the law, and one of the three powers under the Constitution, the others being the legislative power (exercised by Parliament) and the judicial power (exercised by the Supreme Court and other courts)

explanatory memorandum
a paper which explains the purpose and details of bills or regulations, usually in a simple and non-technical way

 

Ff

financial power (of the Parliament)

the power of the Parliament to approve all expenditure proposals by the government

financial year

a 12-month period, usually 1 July to 30 June, at the end of which a government or company balances its accounts and reports on them

first reading

the first stage in the progress through a house of a bill (also called its initiation), marked by the reading by the Clerk out loud for the first time of the long title of a bill, usually straight after it is presented to the house

floor of the House
the area containing Members seats and the area in between

freedom of information

the principle that citizens should have a right to see most government papers and reports, particularly those which relate to their personal affairs

free vote

a vote in Parliament in which members are free to vote according to their own judgment or belief, and not necessarily according to the guidelines, policies or decisions of their group or party

 

Gg

Gazette

an official government publication which gives information about government matters and makes government announcements

government business

business of a house which is introduced by a minister

governor

the representative of the Queen in a state of the Commonwealth of Australia

 

Hh

Hansard

the official transcript of the debates in Parliament

hearing (of a committee)

a meeting of a parliamentary committee for the purpose of taking oral evidence

honourable

a title of members of Parliament

House of Commons

one of two houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom and Canada, in which members are elected on the basis of population

House of Lords

one of two houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom, comprising hereditary, appointed and elected members

House of Representatives

One of the two houses of the federal Parliament of Australia, whose Members are elected on a population basis

 

Ii

immunity

the protection of members of Parliament and others from civil or criminal action in relation to their participation in parliamentary proceedings, and the protection of parliamentary proceedings from impeachment or question in the courts (see also privilege, parliamentary)

in committee

the state of a house of Parliament when it has formed itself into a committee of the whole house, usually to consider the detail of a bill

independent (Member)

a member of Parliament who does not belong to a political party

informal vote

in an election, a voting paper which is not counted because it has not been filled in correctly

initiate (a bill)

to originate a bill in either house of parliament

in order

in accord with the rules, in a correct form or style, as required by parliamentary procedure

inquiry (parliamentary)

an investigation by a parliamentary committee

Interpretation Act

an Act of Parliament which gives guidance as to the meaning of expressions used in other acts and which gives details of procedures to be followed under other acts [Interpretation Act 1971]

introduce (a bill)

to bring in and formally present a bill to a house for future consideration

 

Jj

judicial power

the power to interpret or apply the law in particular cases; one of the three powers under the Constitution, the others being the legislative power and the executive power

 

Kk

Ll

legislative power

the power to make and change laws; one of three powers under the Constitution, the others being the judicial power and the executive power

legislative process

the series of actions which result in a law being made

life (of a Parliament)

the period of time from the first meeting of Parliament to the dissolution (breaking up) or expiry of the House

long title (or title of a bill)

the full title of a bill which sets out briefly the purpose or scope of the bill (see also short title)

lower house

a house is a two chamber parliament, usually having more members that the upper house and whose members usually represnet electorates with similiar numbers of voters; for example the House of Representatives is the lower house in the Australian Federal Parliament

Mm

Mace

once a weapon of war shaped like a club, and the symbol of royal authority, but now the symbol of authority of Parliament and its Speaker

ministerial accountability

the requirement that a minister can be called upon to explain in Parliament his or her actions and those of the department and agencies under his or her control

ministerial responsibility (sometimes used in the same sense as ministerial accountability)

responsibility to the Parliament for actions taken by a minister or on that ministers behalf; the doctrine that the ministers in a government, individually and collectively, depend for their continuance in office on maintaining the support of a majority of Parliament

ministerial statement

a statement made by a minister to Parliament, often used to announce the governments policies and decisions

motion

a proposal for action put forward in the Parliament for consideration, debate and decision

move (a motion)

to make a formal proposal

Nn

name (a member)

to formally identify a member for disorderly behaviour during a sitting of Parliament, by which action a Speaker sets in train disciplinary proceedings which may result in the suspension of the member from the house

no confidence (motion or vote of)

a means by which Parliament expresses dissatisfaction with the performance of a government; a successful no confidence motion results in the removal of government and a new election of President

noes

the collective vote of members in a house of Parliament who oppose a proposal by voting no

notice of motion

an announcement of intention to put forward a motion for consideration, nearly always for a later day

notice of question (see question)

Notice Paper

the document issued each sitting day which lists all outstanding business before Parliament (including orders of the day, notices of motion,as well as questions on notice

 

Oo

Office of Parliamentary Counsel
an office of lawyers who draft or prepare proposals for new laws

order of the day

an item of business which the Parliament has ordered to be set down for discussion on a particular day, usually the next day of sitting

out of order

not in accordance with recognised parliamentary rules

 

Pp

paper

a report or document presented to a house of Parliament

Parliament

The assembly of elected representatives

Parliament House

the building where the house of Parliament meets

parliamentary committee

a small group of members of Parliament, which examines, reports on, and makes recommendations about a particular subject

Parliamentary Counsel (see Office of Parliamentary Counsel)

parliamentary democracy

a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise their power through elected representatives in Parliament

parliamentary government

a system of government in which the executive government is answerable to the Parliament, in which the government is formed from members of the Parliament, and in which the Parliament is supreme

parliamentary precincts

the area in which Parliament House is situated and over which the Parliament has certain regulatory powers

parliamentary procedure

rules for and methods of carrying out the business of a house of Parliament

petition

a document presented to Parliament by a person or group of people asking for action on a matter

point of order

a question to the Chair as to whether proceedings in a meeting are in accord with the rules or in the correct form

political party

an organisation which exists to achieve particular public policy objectives by having members elected to Parliament (Note: Nauru does not have formal political parties, but most other parliamentary democracies do)

portfolio

the area of responsibility or duties of a minister in a government

President

the head of State and the head of government in Nauru, who is chosen by and from among members of Parliament

private member

a member of Parliament who is not a minister

privilege, parliamentary

the immunity of Parliament and its powers to protect the integrity of its processes

procedure (see parliamentary procedure)

proceedings (of a House of Parliament)

the formal actions and decisions of Parliament

prorogue (the Parliament)

to end a session of Parliament without dissolving the House and therefore without a subsequent election

put the question

ask for a decision on a motion or stage of a bill

 

Qq

question

1. a matter, such as a motion or stage of a bill, to be debated and voted on
2. a request for information directed to a minister. A question without notice is asked orally during Question Time, for immediate answer, and a question on notice is a written question asked of a minister which is answered in writing at some later time

Question Time

a daily period of time on every sitting day of the Parliament in which ministers are asked questions without notice concerning their responsibilities by other members

quorum

the minimum number of members, specified by Article 45 of the Constitution of Nauru, who should be in the chamber before it transacts business ( the number of members present, other than the person presiding at the sitting, must be at least on-half of the total number of members of Parliament - in other words, there must be at least 9 members on the floor)

 

Rr

reading (of a bill)

a formal stage in the passage of a bill through a house of Parliament; the first reading occurs when a bill is introduced, the second when it has been agreed to in principle and the third when it has been fully considered and any amendments agreed to; it is usual practice for the second reading of a bill to be moved immediately after the bill has been read a first time

recommit (a bill)

to send a bill back to a committee of the whole so that all or part of the bill can be looked at again

referendum

a vote by all voters on a proposed law to alter the Constitution

regulation

a law made under the authority of an Act of Parliament; Regulations are usually made by Cabinet and must be published in the Gazette and tabled in Parliament. Regulations are a form of subordinate legislation

report (of a parliamentary committee)

a statement, usually in writing and containing recommendations, of the results of an inquiry by a parliamentary committee

resolution

a motion which has been agreed to by Parliament and expresses the will or opinion of Parliament

responsible government

a system where the government is answerable to elected representatives of hte peolel in Parliament for its actions, especially a system where the executive government (Cabinet) is drawn from within the Parliament from members of the party or group which has the support of a majority of the house and must maintain the confidence of a majority of the house.

return to order

a document produced as a result of an order for the production of documents

revenue

incoming money; the money a government collects from taxes and other sources

rule of law

the principle that all people are equal before the law, and that all government action will be undertaken in accordance with the law

ruling (of the Speaker)

a formal decision made by the Speaker, usually on a matter of Parliamentary procedure

 

Ss

schedule (to a bill or Act)

a list at the end of a bill or Act which contains matters of detail

seat

a place for a member in a house of Parliament

second reading (of a bill)

the second stage of the passage of a bill through Parliament at which time discussion on the principle or purpose of the bill takes place

secretary (of a department)

a public servant who is the administrative head of a government department

secretary (of a parliamentary committee)

a parliamentary officer who looks after the support arrangements for a parliamentary committee, including correspondence, record-keeping, research, and arrangements for meetings where witnesses give evidence, and who often prepares the first draft of a committees report

section (of an Act)

a separately-numbered provision in an Act of Parliament corresponding to a clause in a bill

select committee

a parliamentary committee established to inquire into and report on a particular subject; a select committee ceases to exist when it has made its final report to Parliament

separation of powers

,the notion that the three arms of government: the executive(Cabinet), the legislature (Parliament) and the Judicature (Courts)are separate and act independently without interference from each other, but also provide certain checks and balances on each other to ensure that state power is not abused.

session

a parliamentary period which starts on the first day of sitting after an election or prorogation and ends at a prorogation or a dissolution of Parliament

short title (of a bill)

the name of a bill by which it is commonly known and indexed as distinct from its long title which describes its scope and purpose

simple majority

in Parliament, more than half the votes of those members present and voting, as opposed to an absolute majority

sitting

a meeting of the Senate or the House or Representatives (a sitting day)

Speaker

the Member who is elected by Parliament as its presiding officer

standing committee

a parliamentary committee appointed by either house or both houses to inquire into and report on certain matters; a standing committee usually continues to exist for the life of a Parliament and in successive Parliaments, until the referant Standing Order or Act of Parliamnt that established the Committee is repealed

standing orders

a collection of rules agreed to by Parliament which govern the way it conducts its business

submission (to a committee)

suggestions or arguments made orally or in writing to a committee

subordinate legislation

subordinate legislation (also called subsidiary legislation) is a collective term for statutory rules, regulations, by-laws and rules. It is made by persons or bodies to whom Parlliament has delegated some of its law-making powers (such as Cabinet or the Supreme Court) The authority totmake subordinate legislation is conferred by an Act of Parliament. Acts are usually general in nature, establishing broad principles. Subordinate legislation will contain the many details necessary to ensure that the Acts can be properly administered and implemented

Supreme Court

the court set up under the Constitution to decide matters arising under the Constitution and to hear certain other matters including appeals from other courts

suspend (a Member)

to remove a Member from a house and so prevent, for a time, his or her performing any duties in, or being present in, the house (usually in response to disorderly conduct by the Member)

 

Tt

table

present a document or other item to Parliament

terms of reference (of a committee)

the scope for activity and investigation defined for a committee by Parliament when a matter is referred to it for inquiry

third reading

the final stage in the passage of a bill through a house of Parliament

Uu

unicameral

consisting of one chamber or house, especially of a law-making body

upper house

the second chamber in a two-chamber Parliament; for example the Senate is the upper house in the federal Parliament

 

Vv

voices, on the

a decision reached by members saying aye if they support a motion proposed to a house, or no if they do not. The Chair states which side appears to be in the majority and if there is no objection the decision has been made on the voices. If, however, more than one member disagrees, they may call for a division

Votes and Proceedings

the official minutes of the proceedings of Parliament

 

Ww

Westminster system

a system of government originating in Britain, the main features of which are a head of state who is not the head of government, and an executive which is drawn from and directly responsible to the Parliament. The word 'Westminster' is the name of the building in which the British PArliament is housed

witness (before a committee)

a person who gives evidence to a parliamentary committee

writs (for an election)

formal orders, issued by the Speaker requiring that an election be held