Parliamentary Procedures Bill

Parliamentary Procedures Bill - House of Commons

This House recognises the need to enshrine current and new parliamentary procedures into law for the sake of clarification and to remove ambiguity in proceedings. 

Article One - The Speaker

1. The Speaker should exercise their own judgement in calling members to speak if they express a want to do so - this does not apply to Minister who have the right of automatic reply.

1a. The Speaker can refuse a point of order if they deem it to be unnecessary or dragging out proceedings to inconvenient lengths.

1b. The Speaker, in order to adhere to the constitution, should give priority to government business over backbench business as the Prime Minister sets the legislative agenda placing the order paper in Government purview.

1c.The Speaker, when making an official statement, must make clear to Members and citizens that they are speaking in their capacity as the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Article Two - Speaking 

2. Members must raise their hand before they speak unless called by the Speaker to make a statement that has been planned on the order paper.

2a. Members should not interrupt another member while speaking, and can only respond midway through another member’s speech if that said member gives way.

2b. Unscheduled business should not take place in the House unless in an emergency debate granted by the chair, with the consent of the Manager of House Business.

Article Three - Parliamentary Petitions 

3. Citizens or Residents can create a petition that can be submitted with a total of three signatories, where it can either be rejected or deemed valid.

3a. A valid petition with ten signatures will recieve a response from the government.

3b. A valid petition with fifteen signatures will be considered debated in Parliament.

Article Four - Leave of Absence and Resignation

4a. If a Member of Parliament wishes to go on a leave of absence, then they must communicate to the Speaker of the House the start and end date of this absence.

4b. If a member of Parliament wishes to resign, then they must communicate to the Speaker of the House a date their resignation takes effect which cannot exceed the date of notification by more than 7 days.

4c. It is expected that if a member makes an announcement of a leave of absence, they clearly state that they are taking a leave of absence, and avoid the use of terms that may imply a permanence of leave.