Unit 2 Questions

Please answer each of the following questions.  If you are taking this course in a group you may then meet to discuss your answers.

1. What pressures may a Speaker expect to face that could militate against his or her work as an impartial office holder?
2. What responsibilities would be shared between presiding officers in a bicameral parliament?
3. Discuss the ways in which the opposition could help presiding officers to carry out their duties. Is it in the interests of the opposition to do so?
4. Apart from the Auditor General and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman), what other posts of similar status do you consider should be created in your country to assist the Speaker and parliament in their work?

Relevant Abbreviations

ComSec            Commonwealth Secretariat
CPA                  Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
IPU                    Inter-Parliamentary Union
NDI                    National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
UNDP                United Nations Development Program
WBI                   World Bank Institute

Relevant Internet Resources

UNDP Constitution
http://www.undp.org/governance/parldev/docs/constution.htm

UNDP Governing Systems and Executive-Legislative Relationships
http://www.undp.org/governance/parldev/docs/govern.htm

UNDP Legislative Chambers: Unicameral or Bicameral?
http://www.undp.org/governance/parldev/docs/chambers.htm

Select Bibliography

May, T. Erskine (2004). Treatise on the Law, Privileges and Proceedings of Parliament, 23rd edition (ed. McKay, Sir William). London, Butterworths.

Beauchesne, A. (1989). Rules and Forms of the House of Commons of Canada, 6th edition (ed. Fraser, A., Dawson W.F. and Holtby, J.A.). Toronto, Carswell Co Ltd.

Harris,I.C. (2005). House of Representatives Practice, 5th edition. Canberra, Department of the House of Representatives.
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/pubs/PRACTICE/Index.htm

Kaul, M.N. and Shakdher, S.L. (2000). Practice and Procedure of Parliament, 5th edition (ed. Malhotra, G.C.). New Delhi, Metropolitan.

MacMinn, E.G. (1987). Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia. Victoria BC, Queen’s Printer.

McGee, D. (2005). Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, 3rd  edition. New Zealand, Dunmore Publishing.

Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (2004). National Assembly Guide to Procedure. Cape Town, Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.

Wijesekera, P. (2002). Parliamentary Practice in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, Parliamentary Secretariat.

Rashid, M.H. (2000). Rulings of the Speaker (compiled by Hasan, K.T. and others). Dhaka, Institute of Parliamentary Studies, Bangladesh Parliament.

Marleau, R. and Montpetit, C. (2000). House of Commons: Procedure and Practice. Ottawa, House of Commons. 

MacMinn, E.G. (1987). Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia. Victoria, Queen’s Printer.

Hatchard, J. and Slinn, P. (1999). Parliamentary Supremacy and Judicial Independence. London, Cavendish.

Laundy, P. (1984). The Office of the Speaker in the Parliaments of the Commonwealth. London, Quiller Press.

NDI (1996). Legislative Research Series: Presiding Officers. Washington D.C., NDI

Shell, D.R. (1998). Second Chambers, in World Encyclopedia of Parliaments and Legislatures, ed. Kurian, G.T. and Longley, L.  Washington, D.C., Congressional Quarterly.