When the House breaks with intention of resuming later. The House can stand adjourned for any period of time.
A Minister who does not hold office in the government or opposition and who sits behind the front benches in the House of Assembly.
A Bill is a proposal for a new law or for a change to an existing law.
- First Reading
- Second Reading
- Committee Of The Whole
- Report Stage
- Third Stage
- Passage through the Senate (The Upper House)
- Royal Assent
When the House goes into Committee, The Speaker of The House vacates the Chair and is replaced by the Chairman, who is then identified as “The Chairman.
A Clause is a particular and separate article, stipulation or proviso in a Bill. The body of a Bill consists of numbered clauses. When a Bill is enacted the clauses become sections of a Law or Act.
A voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, most of which are former British colonies.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is an organization that links Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from over 180 national, state, provincial and territorial Parliaments and Legislatures.
A Parliamentary term is ended by Dissolution. When Parliament is dissolved all matters before Parliament are terminated and all Parliamentarians will vacate their seats. The life or a term of Parliament is usually five years, but it may be terminated sooner by the Governor-General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Public seating, generally open at all times the House is sitting.
Member of Parliament
The Opposition refers to the non-governing party of elected MPs that are opposed to the current government. The Constitutional function of the Opposition is to scrutinize government legislation and actions.
The period of time from the beginning of a Parliamentary session to the end of it.
A Parliamentary term is divided into sessions. A session of Parliament is that period that Parliament meets between a dissolution and a prorogation, or between prorogation and prorogation.The Governor-General opens all Sessions of Parliament with a Speech from the Throne.
A session of Parliament is ended by Prorogation.
When a Bill is enacted the clauses become sections of a Law or Act.