Parliamentary Terms PARLIAMENT of CANADA. ( Intermediate ) adjournment proceedings A 30-minute period before the end of a daily sitting in the House of Commons when Members of Parliament can debate matters raised in Question Period or written questions that have not been answered within 45 days. amend To change or improve something: for example, a piece of legislation. amendment A change proposed to a motion, a bill or committee report with the intention of improving it or providing an alternative. bell An electronic bell used to call Members of Parliament into the Chamber for a sitting, or to announce a vote or the lack of a quorum in the House of Commons. When the bell is used to announce a vote, it is called a division bell. bicameral A legislature which has two separate chambers. In Canada, they are the Senate and the House of Commons. Generally, the two Chambers have equal privileges and powers, but are quite distinct from each other. This bicameral system has a significant impact on the way Parliament works. bill A proposal for a law that is to be considered by Parliament. Cabinet The Cabinet consists of all Ministers who are appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister from among the members of the House of Commons, and at least one from the Senate (including the Leader of the Government in the Senate). The Cabinet decides the Governments priorities and policies, determines the legislation that will be presented to Parliament, and raises and spends revenues. caucus A group composed of all Senators and Members of Parliament from the same political party. Private caucus meetings are held regularly. Chair The presiding officer at a meeting of the House or a committee. Chamber One of two large rooms in the Centre Block where proceedings of the Senate and the House of Commons take place. Traditionally, the Senate Chamber is red and the House of Commons is green. Chief Electoral Officer of Canada The officer of Parliament responsible for overseeing the administrative conduct of all federal elections and referenda. civil servant A civil servant is someone who works for the administrative service of a government, called the civil service (or public service). Federally, the civil service includes government departments, Crown corporations and various agencies. Clerk of the House of Commons Advises the Speaker and Members of the House of Commons on parliamentary procedure and practice and sits at a table in front of the Speaker in the Chamber. The Clerk is the most senior permanent officer of the Commons and is responsible for keeping the official record of proceedings, preparing Commons documents and supervising the procedural officers and clerks. Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments The chief administrative officer of the Senate, who advises the Speaker and Senators on parliamentary procedure and practice and is responsible for the administration of the Senate and keeping the official records of proceedings. As Clerk of the Parliaments, he or she is also responsible for the original pieces of legislation that have received Royal Assent. Committee of the Whole Occasionally, all Senators or all Members of the House of Commons will meet in their respective Chambers to consider money bills or other important legislation. Committees House of Commons committees are composed of both Government and opposition members. There are three basic types of committees: legislative committees, which examine bills after second reading in the House standing committees, which study certain issues, documents, departments or estimates throughout the duration of the Parliament, and special committees, which are appointed to inquire into specific matters. Joint committees include members from both the Senate and the House of Commons. Two kinds exist: standing joint committees and special joint committees. Senate committees have three main functions: to study proposed legislation in detail, to investigate policy matters and to examine the Governments spending proposals, called the Estimates. At the end of an investigation, a committee report is presented to the full Senate. There are two basic types of Senate committees: standing committees, permanent committees that correspond broadly with areas of public policy and legislation, and special committees, temporary committees that focus on particular areas of study assigned to them by the Senate. constituency The specific geographic area in Canada that a Member of Parliament represents in the House of Commons, also known as a riding or electoral district. During debate the Member is identified by the name of the riding rather than by his or her own name. constituent A person living in an area in Canada represented by an elected Member of Parliament. Daily Order of Business The daily agenda of business that may be taken up by the House of Commons. Daily Routine of Business The daily agenda of business that may be taken up by the Senate. debate A discussion in which the arguments for and against a subject are presented according to specific rules. dissolution The bringing to an end of a Parliament, either at the conclusion of its five-year term or by proclamation of the Governor General. It is followed by a general election. election The process of choosing a representative by vote. In a federal general election, the voters in each riding elect one representative to the House of Commons. The person who gets the most votes represents the riding. Generally, the party which has the most members elected forms the Government. electoral district Another word for riding or constituency. Government The party with the most elected members in the House of Commons usually forms the Government. Within the federal Government, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet determine priorities and policies, ensure their implementation and guide the Governments legislation through the House of Commons. An important feature of our system is that the Cabinet is responsible to Parliament. If the Government loses a major vote in the House, the Cabinet resigns. At that point the Governor General may accept the Prime Ministers advice to dissolve Parliament and call an election, or the Governor General may ask the Leader of the Official Opposition to form a new Government. Government Business Period of time set aside each day for dealing with items of business presented by the Government in the Senate. Government Orders Period of time set aside each day for dealing with items of business in the House of Commons. Governor General Appointed by the Queen (on the advice of the Prime Minister) to be her representative as Head of State in Canada. Acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament, reads the Speech from the Throne, gives Royal Assent to bills and signs many other state documents. The Governor General receives diplomatic representatives and performs many ceremonial and social duties. Hansard The daily official record of debates in the Senate and the House of Commons which is edited, translated and printed in English and French. Hansard is the name of the printer in England who began preparing reports of parliamentary debates in the 18th century. The titles of the documents are Debates of the Senate and Debates of the House of Commons. Honourable A title given to provincial Lieutenant-Governors, Privy Councillors and Senators for life, and to the Speaker of the House of Commons and certain judges while in office. The terms Honourable Senator, The Honourable Member for... , Honourable colleague and others are used by Senators and Members of Parliament in their respective chambers as a courtesy, where traditionally they are not allowed to call each other by name. House Leader The member of a party responsible for its management in the House. The Government House Leader determines a schedule of House business through consultation with the House Leaders of the other recognized parties. House of Commons The elected Lower House of Parliament is composed of 308 Members representing all the ridings across Canada. Most of the laws passed by Parliament originate in the House of Commons. Members duties include representing constituents concerns, serving on committees, proposing legislation, participating in Commons debates and discussing and amending bills. interest groups Groups of businesses, associations and people with a common interest who lobby the Government to promote that interest. joint committee A committee made up of a proportionate number of members of both the House of Commons and the Senate. It may be either a standing joint committee or a special joint committee. Journals The official record in English and French of the decisions and transactions of the House of Commons and of the Senate. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Leader of the Government in the Senate Appointed by the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Government in the Senate is usually a member of the Cabinet. The leader represents the Government in the Senate and the Senate in Cabinet. The leaders duties include organizing Government strategy in the Chamber, sponsoring legislation and managing Government business in the Senate, and responding to questions during Question Period. The Leader of the Government is also an ex officio member of all Senate standing committees. Leader of the Official Opposition Generally, the leader of the party that has the second largest membership in each Chamber. The leader provides criticism of the Government, leads opposition debates in both Chambers and suggests amendments to Government legislation or alternative proposals. The role of the Official Opposition is to offer voters an alternative to the current Government in the next election. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate The leader of the party that holds the largest number of seats in the opposition. The Leader of the Opposition co-ordinates his or her party members activities in the Chamber and in committees. legislation The Acts passed by Parliament which make up the law. legislative process The process by which bills are approved by Parliament and become laws. A bill goes through three readings and study by a committee in both the House of Commons and the Senate. After approval by both Houses, it receives Royal Assent and becomes law. Library of Parliament The Library of Parliament provides parliamentarians and their staff with information, reference and research services. The Library stocks over 465,000 volumes concerning such topics as Canadian government, politics, economics, law and international relations, and offers a suite of electronic information resources to parliamentary offices. While the Library of Parliament itself is not open to the public, it does provide information about Parliament to the general public through a series of electronic and print publications and various public programs. lobbyist Lobbyists are individuals and groups who actively communicate with federal public office holders in an attempt to influence Government decisions. They are required under the Lobbyists Registration Act to register their activities, provide information on their clients and the subject matter of their lobbying activity, and adhere to standards of conduct for communicating with federal public office holders. Mace The Senate and the House of Commons each has its own Mace, which is an ornamental staff representing the authority of the respective House. When the Senate and the House are in session, the Maces rest on the Clerks Tables. Member of Parliament This term can be used in two ways. It can refer to Members of both the Senate and of the House of Commons, reflecting the fact that the Parliament of Canada is a bicameral legislature. In common usage the term refers to a person elected to a seat in the House of Commons (an MP), who serves as a representative of one of the 308 ridings into which Canada is divided. In debate, Members are identified not by their own names but by the names of their ridings. Members Statements Statements by Members is a daily 15-minute period when Members of Parliament who are not Cabinet Ministers can speak for up to one minute each on matters they consider to be important. notice of motion An oral or written announcement of an intention to bring a substantial proposal before the House of Commons or the Senate. opposition The party or parties and independent members who do not belong to the governing party. The role of the opposition is to provide knowledgeable criticism of the Government and propose ways to improve its policies and legislation. oral questions The formal term for Question Period. out of order Contrary to the rules of parliamentary procedure. The expression may be applied to motions, bills, or to any intervention that runs contrary to the rules of the Senate or of the House of Commons. It could include words, behaviour or actions that can be judged to be out of order by the Speaker of the Senate or of the House of Commons. page A university student employed by the Senate or the House of Commons to carry messages and deliver documents and other material to the Chamber during sittings of the Senate or House of Commons. Parliament The Constitution Act, 1867 states that Canadas Parliament is composed of the Queen, the Senate and the House of Commons. The Act gives Parliament the power to make laws for Canada in certain areas of responsibility. parliamentarian A Senator or Member of the House of Commons. parliamentary procedure The rules and traditions that determine how the Senate and House of Commons carry out their business. PCO An abbreviation for Privy Council Office. PMO An abbreviation for Prime Ministers Office. portfolio The term used to describe the responsibilities of a member of Cabinet. For example, the portfolio of the Minister of Finance includes responsibility for the Department of Finance and the annual budget. Prime Minister The leader of the party in power and the head of the federal Government. private Member A Member of Parliament who is not a Cabinet Minister, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker or a Parliamentary Secretary. Privy Council A formal advisory body to the Crown appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. All Cabinet members must be sworn to the Privy Council, to which they are named for life. prorogue Prorogation ends a session of Parliament, but does not dissolve Parliament. The Governor General prorogues Parliament at the request of the Prime Minister. Any bills that have not received Royal Assent by the time Parliament is prorogued will have to be reintroduced in the next session. All committee work ceases with prorogation as well. Queen Canada is a constitutional monarchy, and our Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II. All federal laws are enacted in the Queens name. In the Queens absence, her powers are exercised by her representative in Canada, the Governor General. Question Period A daily 45-minute period in the House of Commons and a 30-minute period in the Senate when the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Ministers and committee chairs are asked questions about their areas of responsibility (also known as Oral Questions). quorum The minimum number of Senators (15) who must be in attendance in the Senate, or the minimum number of Members of Parliament including the Speaker (20) who must be present in the House of Commons in order to carry out the business of the Chamber. In a committee, the quorum is a majority of the committee members. report A written or verbal statement by a committee to the Senate or to the House of Commons giving the results of an inquiry, asking for additional powers or returning a bill after consideration, with or without amendments. report stage A step in the passage of a bill when the Senate and the House of Commons consider the report of the committee that had studied a bill, and when amendments to the text of the bill may be proposed. responsible government The political executive — the Prime Minister and Cabinet — must have the support of the majority in the House of Commons to stay in power. If it loses that support on a question of confidence, it must resign or call for an election. riding Another word for constituency or electoral district. Right Honourable A title given for life to Governors General, Prime Ministers and Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada. routine proceedings A time set aside daily in the House of Commons and in the Senate to table documents, present petitions and consider other basic business. Royal Assent The ceremony of Royal Assent is the last stage in the legislative process. It is one of Parliaments oldest proceedings. Royal Assent takes place in the Senate Chamber and is given by the Governor General or the Governor Generals deputy (the Chief Justice of Canada or another justice of the Supreme Court of Canada), with Members of the House of Commons present. Once a bill has received Royal Assent it can become law. Alternatively, Royal Assent may be signified by a written declaration by the Governor General or the Governor Generals deputy. Senate The Upper House of Parliament, composed of 105 Senators. They examine and revise legislation, investigate national issues and represent regional, provincial and minority interests. The Senate also introduces its own bills, subject to certain constitutional limitations. Senate committees are frequently struck to examine specific social and economic issues in detail. Senator A person appointed to the Upper House of Parliament by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Senate has 105 Senators representing different regions of Canada. Senators Statements A daily 15-minute period when Senators can speak for up to three minutes each on matters they consider to be important. Sergeant-at-Arms A senior official who is responsible for the buildings used by the House of Commons, their contents, maintenance and security. The Sergeant-at-Arms attends to the Speaker when he or she enters or leaves the Commons Chamber and is responsible for the Mace. session One of the fundamental time periods into which a Parliament is divided, usually consisting of a number of separate sittings. Sessions are begun by a Speech from the Throne and are ended by prorogation or dissolution. sitting A meeting of the Senate or of the House of Commons within a session. Although usually a calendar day, a sitting may last for only a matter of minutes or may extend over several days. Speaker of the House of Commons The Speaker presides over the House of Commons, ensuring that its rules and traditions are respected. The Speaker represents the Commons in dealings with the Senate and the Crown and is also responsible for the administration of the House and its staff. The Speaker has a diplomatic and social role in hosting visits by heads of state and heads of government who come to Parliament. The Speaker is elected to the position by other Members at the beginning of a new Parliament or when a vacancy occurs. Speaker of the Senate The Speaker presides over the business of the Senate Chamber and guides the flow of debates, calling items on the Order Paper, preserving order and decorum and ruling on questions of parliamentary procedure. The Speaker also carries out diplomatic and ceremonial functions, both at home and abroad. The Speaker of the Senate is appointed by the Prime Minister. special committee A committee of Members of Parliament or of Senators appointed to study a specific matter. Once it has presented its final report, the committee ceases to exist. Speech from the Throne A speech prepared by the Privy Council Office and delivered by the Queen or the Governor General at the start of a session of Parliament. The speech is delivered in the Senate Chamber and outlines the Governments policies and the legislation it plans to introduce during the session. standing committee A permanent committee of the Senate or of the House of Commons that studies matters requested by its respective House or undertakes studies on its own initiative. Supreme Court of Canada The highest court in the land, it is composed of nine justices, three of whom must be from Quebec. The Supreme Court hears appeals from decisions of provincial courts of appeal and is called on to decide whether a matter is a federal or provincial responsibility. table To place a document before the Senate, the House of Commons or a committee for consideration or consultation. Usher of the Black Rod An officer of the Senate who supervises the administrative duties for the opening of Parliament and escorts the Speaker of the Senate into the Chamber. The Usher of the Black Rod also delivers messages to the House of Commons when its Members attendance is required in the Senate Chamber by the Governor General or a deputy of the Governor General. The name Black Rod comes from an ebony rod which symbolises the position. vote To express a choice for the purpose of reaching a decision. In the Senate and House of Commons, Members can vote either verbally or by standing in their places. Eligible Canadian citizens vote for their representatives by secret ballot. whip The Member who is responsible for keeping other members of the same party informed about House business and ensuring their attendance in the Chamber, especially when a vote is anticipated. Vocabulary: Political Words What is a technocrat government? / ماذا تعنى كلمة تكنوقراط أو حكومة تكنوقراطية؟ Technocrat refers to t the educated and the most knowledgeable elite and they often don’t belong to any political party.The term technocracy derives from the Greek words tekhne meaning skill and kratos meaning power, as ingovernment, or rule. Thus, the term technocracy denotes a system of government where those who have knowledge, expertise or skills compose the governing body تكنوقراط هى النخب المثقفة والأكثر علما وتخصصا فى مجال المهام القائمين بها ،وهم غالبا غير منتمين لاحزاب والتكنوقراط هى كلمة يونانية الأصل مشتقة من كلمتين التكنولوجيا وتعنى المعرفة أو العلوم وقراط هى كلمة إغريقية تعنى الحكم، وبذلك يكون معنى تكنوقراط حكم الطبقة العلمية الفنية المتخصصة المثقفة If you can’t tell a lame duck from a rubber chicken, here’s a guide to help you understand the language of politics. Every clique has its own language — an insiders jargon that people outside the group dont always understand. Filmmakers talk about panning and fading. Retailers talk about floor sales and back orders. Politicians have a language of their own too, and it often appears in media reports about politics. What exactly do politicians mean when they talk about a lame duck or a rubber chicken? What is red tape and who is the Silent Majority? This glossary is designed to demystify some of these terms and explain their origins. The definitions that follow, with background drawn from Safires New Political Dictionary, should help you understand political talk a little better the next time you hear it on the evening news or read it in the morning papers. Big Government: A negative term, used mainly by conservatives to describe government programs in areas where they believe government shouldnt be involved, especially those that spend money on social problems. Bipartisan: A cooperative effort by two political parties. Bleeding Heart: A term describing people whose hearts bleed with sympathy for the downtrodden; used to criticize liberals who favor government spending for social programs. Bully Pulpit: The Presidency, when used by the President to inspire or moralize. Whenever the President seeks to rouse the American people, he is said to be speaking from the bully pulpit. When the term first came into use, bully was slang for first rate or admirable. Campaign: (noun) An organized effort to win an election. (verb) To strive for elected office. Caucus: An informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to the partys convention. Checks and Balances: The system of dividing power among the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one from having too much power. Each branch has some authority to check the power of the others, thereby maintaining a balance among the three. Coattails: The power of a popular candidate to gather support for other candidates in his or her party. Winning candidates are said to have coattails when they drag candidates for lower office along with them to victory. Convention: A national meeting of a political party, where delegates formally elect a partys nominee. Dark Horse: A long-shot candidate. Delegate: A representative to a partys national convention chosen by local voters to vote for a particular candidate. Each state is assigned a certain number of delegates based on its population. Demagogue: A leader whose impassioned rhetoric appeals to greed, fear, and hatred, and who often spreads lies. Former U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy (see McCarthyism) is often cited as a classic demagogue. Fence Mending: What politicians do when they visit their electoral districts to explain an unpopular action. The term originated in 1879, when Ohio Senator John Sherman made a trip home that most people considered a political visit. Sherman insisted, however, that he was home only to repair my fences. Filibuster: An attempt by a Senator or group of Senators to obstruct the passage of a bill, favored by the majority, by talking continuously. Because there is no rule in the Senate over how long a member can speak, a Senator can prevent a bill from coming up for a vote by talking endlessly. Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina set the record in 1957 by speaking for more than 24 hours without stopping. Fishing Expedition: An investigation with no defined purpose, often by one party seeking damaging information about another. Such inquiries are likened to fishing because they pull up whatever they happen to catch. Front Burner: Where an issue is placed when it must be dealt with immediately. Gerrymander: The reorganization of voting districts by the party in power to insure more votes for their candidates. The term originated in 1811, when Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts signed a bill that changed districts to favor the Democrats. The shape of one new district supposedly resembled a salamander, provoking a Boston newspaper editor to say, Salamander? Call it a Gerrymander! GOP: Grand Old Party, nickname of the Republican Party. Grass Roots: Political activity that originates locally, or arises from ground level. Ideology: An integrated system of ideas about politics, values, and culture. Those who espouse an ideology are sometimes criticized as rigid and narrow-minded. Incumbent: A current officeholder. Inside the Beltway: The area inside the Capital Beltway, a highway that encircles Washington, D.C. An issue described as inside the Beltway is believed to be of concern only to the people who work in and with the federal government and of little interest to the nation at large. Lame Duck: An officeholder whose term has expired or cannot be continued, who thus has lessened power. Left-wing: Liberal. The labeling system originated from the seating pattern of the French National Assembly, which put liberals on the left, moderates in the middle, and conservatives on the right. Lobby: A group seeking to influence an elected official, or the act of doing so. The term originated in the 17th century, when people waiting to speak with legislators at the English House of Commons waited in a large atrium outside the legislators hall, called the lobby. Machine Politics: Politics controlled by a tightly-run organization that stresses discipline and rewards its supporters. Machines are usually found in large cities and are frequently accused of corruption. McCarthyism: The practice of smearing people with baseless accusations. Refers to the tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy, who in the 1950s destroyed the careers of many prominent Americans by branding them Communists. Muckraker: A journalist who seeks out the scandalous activities of public officials. Derived from the Man with the Muck Rake, a character in John Bunyans The Pilgrims Progress, who could never look up, only down. Nomination: When a political party chooses its official candidate for a particular office. Nominee: The candidate chosen by a political party to run for a particular office. Photo-Op: Short for photo opportunity, an event staged specifically for news cameras to help a politician appear on the evening news or in morning papers. Platform: The positions that a party adopts, and stands on, at the beginning of an election campaign. Political Party: An organization that seeks to achieve political power by electing its members to public office. Political Suicide: A vote or action that is likely to be so unpopular with voters as to cause a politicians probable loss in the next election. Poll: A survey used to gauge public opinion concerning issues or to forecast an election. Pork Barrel: Wasteful and unnecessary projects that politicians secure for their local districts, usually to gain favor with local voters. The term dates from the days when salted pork was occasionally handed out to slaves from large barrels. An observer once wrote that the mad rush of politicians to get their districts share of treasury funds looked like slaves rushing to the pork barrel. Primary: A state election in which party members vote for a candidate from within their party. The vote determines how many of that states delegates each candidate gets. Pundit: A political analyst, commentator, or columnist who usually works for a newspaper or magazine, or in broadcasting. Derived from a Hindi phrase meaning learned one. Reactionary: A militant conservative; opposite of radical, which means ultraliberal. Red Tape: Government paperwork and procedures that are slow and difficult. Stems from an 18th-century British practice of binding official papers with a reddish twine. Rubber Chicken Circuit: The endless series of public dinners and luncheons politicians must attend to raise funds and make speeches. The food often includes chicken, which is cooked hours earlier and then reheated, giving it a rubbery texture. Silent Majority: The mass of Americans whose opinions are not loud and public, but who together have enormous power. Popularized by President Richard Nixon, who claimed that Vietnam War protesters comprised a minority, while a silent majority supported the war. Slate: Candidates for various offices running as a team; or a group of delegates running on behalf of one candidate. Smoke-Filled Room: The sort of place where behind-the-scenes political wheeling and dealing, often devious, occurs. Refers to the penchant of many political operatives for smoking cigars. Spin: A politicians attempt to shape the way the public looks at an issue or event, much the way a tennis player uses spin to direct the ball. Political advisers who spin are known as spin doctors. Stump: To campaign in person on a local level. Swing Vote: The undecided, usually independent, portion of the electorate that can swing the outcome of an election one way or the other. Trial Balloon: An idea a politician suggests in order to observe the reaction. If public reaction is favorable, the politician takes credit for it; if not, the idea dies quickly. Whip: The party member who makes sure that all other members are present for crucial votes and that they vote in accordance with the party line. The term originated in British fox hunting, where the whipper-in was responsible for keeping the hounds from straying. Whistle-Stopping: The practice of making speeches in many towns in a short time, often during a single day. When politicians traveled by train, small towns were called whistle-stops. Politicians would use the stop to deliver a quick campaign speech, often from the back of the train, before heading to the next stop. Witch Hunt: A vindictive, often irrational, investigation that preys on public fears. Refers to witch hunts in 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts, where many innocent women accused of witchcraft were burned at the stake or drowned.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:59:14 +0000
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