It's all to do with the training: You can do a lot if you're properly trained.

-- Queen Elizabeth II


  


Commonwealth Module - Unit 4: Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure and Aspects of Debate
 

Unit 4 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. Make a summary of all motions moved in your parliament during the last three months and attempt classifications for them.
  2. Votes are taken on amendments before the vote on the main motion. Can you explain why this should be so?
  3. Do you think that the opposition in your country makes effective use of the opportunities given to them to raise issues in parliament?
  4. In what ways do debates in parliament differ from debates in society?

 

Relevant Abbreviations

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

 

Relevant Internet Resources

Commonwealth Parliaments Association
http://www.cpahq.org/

IFES Election Guide
www.electionguide.org

Inter Parliamentary Union
http://www.ipu.org/english/home.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.

Grove, R., Swinson, M. and Hesford, S. (eds.). (2007). New South Wales Legislative Assembly: Practice, Procedure and Privilege. Riverwood NSW, Ligare Pty Ltd.

Harris,I.C. (2005). House of Representatives Practice, 5th edition. Canberra, Department of the House of Representatives.

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

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 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.

Abraham, L.A. and Hawtrey, S.C. (1970). A Parliamentary Dictionary, 3rd edition. London, Butterworths.

CPA (1997). Guidelines for the Training of Parliamentary Staff, 2nd impression. London, CPA.

CPA/WBI (2006). Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures. London, CPA.

Griffith, J.A.G. and Ryle, M.T. (2003). Parliament: Function, Practice and Procedure, 2nd edition (ed. Blackburn, R., Kennon, A. and Wheeler-Booth, Sir Michael). London, Sweet and Maxwell.

IPU (2004). A Guide to Parliamentary Practice. Geneva, IPU.

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

Rogers, R. and Walters, R. (2004). How Parliament Works, 5th edition. Pearson Longman UK.

Wilding, N. and Laundy, P. (1972). An Encyclopaedia of Parliament, 4th edition. London, Cassell.

 

Index Previous Page