Act – A law made by a legislative body and given assent by the head of state or otherwise certified as required by the constitution.

Aso Rock (Nigeria) Declaration of 2003 – A declaration of Commonwealth Heads of Government which endorsed the recommendations of a high-powered group of experts on development and democracy that stressed the necessity for development efforts to take a pro-poor stance.

Auditor General – This official, known in some jurisdictions as the Comptroller and Auditor General, is responsible for scrutinizing the executive’s financial operations. Parliament would be seriously restricted in its work of scrutiny without receiving reports from the Auditor General and being able to rely on this official’s assistance in deliberating on his or her findings at the meetings of the Committee on Public Accounts and, where it exists, the Committee on Public Enterprises.

Balfour Declaration of 1926 – The document that first gave definition to dominions as autonomous communities within the British Empire, though united by a common allegiance to the British Crown and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth.

Bicameral legislature – A system of government in which the legislature comprises two Houses. Originally it served to represent the interests of both the common people and the elite to ensure deliberation over legislation. Each House has powers not held by the other, and measures initiated by one House require the approval of both Houses to become law.

Bill – A draft of proposed legislation.

Cabinet Paper – A request or proposal from a government department to Cabinet. If new legislation is being proposed, it will be passed to the drafting authorities to be converted from an administrative document to a legal one

Casting vote – A vote given to the presiding officer of a legislature or the chair of a committee in order to resolve deadlock.

Clerk of the House – Known in many parliaments as the Secretary General, this official is the adviser to the presiding officer on procedural issues as well as the chief administrative and accounting officer of the legislature.

Committee on Public Accounts – See Public Accounts Committee

Committee on Public Enterprises (or Public Undertakings) – A parliamentary committee that examines the reports, activities and accounts of public undertakings.

Committee of the Whole House – Consisting of all Members of the legislature, this committee provides a forum for a bill to be analyzed in a more informal manner than in a sitting of Parliament, for example Members are able to speak more than once and raise specific issues on the operation of the legislation. It allows a question and answer session to take place between Members and the Member in charge of the bill. The Committee of the Whole is usually presided over by the Deputy Speaker or Chairman of Committees instead of the Speaker and its functions are exercised apart from the House so much so that the House does not recognize its proceedings until the Chairman makes a report.

Commonwealth – See Commonwealth of Nations.

Commonwealth Business Council – A Commonwealth organization that provides leadership in increasing international trade and investment flows, creating new business opportunities, promoting good governance and corporate social responsibility, reducing the digital divide and integrating developing countries into the global market.  In fulfilling its mission, CBC strives to provide a bridge between the private sector and governments, between emerging markets and developed markets and between small businesses and the international private sector.

Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation – The principal means by which the Commonwealth delivers development assistance to member countries.  It operates on the principle of mutual assistance, with member governments contributing financing on a voluntary basis and obtaining technical assistance as needed.

Commonwealth Foundation – An intergovernmental organization, resourced by and reporting to Commonwealth governments, and guided by Commonwealth values and priorities. Its mandate is to strengthen civil society in the achievement of Commonwealth priorities - democracy and good governance, respect for human rights and gender equality, poverty eradication and sustainable, people-centered development, and to promote arts and culture.

Commonwealth Games – A multinational, multi-sport event that is held every four years involving the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. Attendance at the Commonwealth Games is typically around 5,000 athletes.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) – Meetings among heads of parliamentary governments held every two years to reiterate or strengthen the core values and principles of the Commonwealth and to review its performance and global relevance.

CHOGM Declarations – A series of agreements on the Commonwealth’s principles and aims issued as declarations or statements by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their biennial summits. They constitute foundation statements of Commonwealth values and a history of concern in global affairs.

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative – An independent nonpartisan international NGO working for the practical realization of human rights in Commonwealth countries.

Commonwealth of Learning – An intergovernmental organization created by CHOGM to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. In effect it is a non-degree-granting Commonwealth University.

Commonwealth Local Government Forum – An organization that works to promote and strengthen effective democratic local government throughout the Commonwealth and to facilitate the exchange of good practice in local government structures and services.

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) – A rapid action force of Foreign Ministers from eight nations that was set up as a result of the Millbrook Declaration to take action against member states which persistently and seriously violate the principles of the Harare Declaration. The composition and terms of reference of the Group are reviewed by CHOGM every two years.

Commonwealth of Nations – A voluntary association of independent nations and their dependent territories linked by historical ties as parts of the former British Empire and cooperating on matters of mutual concern. This term used since the London Declaration of 1949 replaced the earlier usage of ‘British Commonwealth’.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) – An organization with a total membership of around 15,000 in 53 nations that seeks to advance parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance by organizing conferences, seminars, and study groups that are aimed primarily at parliamentarians and parliamentary staff.

Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit – A think tank for the contemporary Commonwealth based within the Institute of Commonwealth Studies of the University of London.

Commonwealth Secretariat – An organization established in 1965 to implement Commonwealth decisions and foster relations between Commonwealth member countries.

Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians – A network of women parliamentarians that provides the opportunity for its Members to share experiences, discuss topics of interest and seek solutions to the issues faced by the female minority in parliaments.

Constituent – A citizen residing in the area represented or served by a parliamentarian.

Constitution – The system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, state, corporation, or the like, is governed.

Coolum Declaration of 2002 – A CHOGM document that attempts to give a new vision and structure for the Commonwealth in the 21st Century.

Counsel – The advocate or advocates engaged in the direction of a cause in court; a legal adviser or counselor.

Dominion – A former colonial state that accepts the British monarch as head of state but is self-governed and independent in foreign affairs.

Edinburgh Declaration of 1997 – A declaration of Commonwealth Heads of Government that deals with economic matters, globalization and people-centered development.

Election Observer Groups – Groups of non-partisan individuals who are charged with observing elections to ensure that the election process is fair.

Fancourt Declaration of 1999 – A CHOGM declaration that commits theCommonwealth to play a greater role in providing practical assistance for the creation of capacities needed to promote people-centered development.

First-past-the-post – A voting system in which a single winner is chosen in a given constituency by having the most votes, regardless of whether or not he or she has an absolute majority of votes.

First reading – The first stage of a bill’s passage through parliament. By practice in most countries, it is a purely formal measure to introduce the bill to the legislature, but in others there may be some discussion and even reference to a parliamentary committee.

Hansard – The official record of parliamentary debates.

Harare Declaration of 1991 – The declaration that reaffirms Commonwealth principles originally set down in 1971 in the Singapore Declaration. It makes a robust stand against terrorism, promises to pursue measures to make the equality of women and their full participation in public life a reality, makes specific decisions related to the promotion of sustainable development, and stresses the promotion of democracy.

Hybrid bill – A bill that applies to both public and private interests and is treated in legislatures as a public or government bill.

Institute of Commonwealth Studies – A research institute founded in 1949 at the University of London. It hosts the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, a think tank for the contemporary Commonwealth.

Joint Committees – Parliamentary committees in a bicameral legislature that are set up to examine issues affecting both Houses.

Leader of the House – An individual who is usually a government Minister and who has special responsibilities for the organization of business in the legislature.

Leader of the Opposition – The title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary governance. This individual is seen as the alternative Prime Minister to the present incumbent, and heads a rival alternative government known as the shadow cabinet.

Limassol Declaration of 1993 – A CHOGM declaration on the Uruguay Round that calls for trade agreements, which allow poor countries access to world markets and gives preference to them where necessary.

London Declaration – As a result of the meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers in 1949, this declaration created the Commonwealth of Nations and allowed countries with republican constitutions to remain Members of the Commonwealth while accepting the British monarch as a symbol of their free association and the Head of the Commonwealth.

Lower House – One of two chambers of a bicameral legislature.  Under parliamentary systems money bills may only be introduced in the lower house.

Meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers – See Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Millbrook Declaration of 1995 – A declaration in which Commonwealth leaders decided that firm action would be taken against Members who did not uphold the Harare principles, even by suspension of participation at Commonwealth meetings or by complete suspension from the Commonwealth.

Motion – A proposal to the House on which a decision is sought. The motion is the basic building block of parliamentary procedure and is followed by the process of debate.

Opening of parliament – An event, usually held annually, that marks the commencement of a session of Parliament.

Order Paper – A document issued daily that lists the business that will be dealt with during that day's sitting of the legislature. It provides MPs with details of what will be happening in the House throughout the day including when and where the standing committees and select committees will be meeting.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration – An independent official reporting to parliament who investigates complaints from the public of maladministration that affects their rights.

Parliamentary committees – Groups of Members of Parliament that are established by parliament to carry out specific tasks or functions permitting parliament to stretch its resources both in terms of people and time.

Presiding officer – An individual in a legislature who oversees the procedures of debate as an impartial authority. This individual may also be called speaker, president, chairman or chair.

Public Accounts Committee – A select committee that is responsible for overseeing government expenditures to ensure they are effective and honest.

Republican – A form of government in which the supreme power lies in the body of citizens who are entitled to vote for the head of state and for officers and representatives who are responsible to them.

Royal Commonwealth Society – An organization that provides information and education about the Commonwealth to all interested persons. It has its headquarters in London and branches in many Commonwealth countries.

Second chamber – The Upper House in a bicameral legislature.

Second Reading – The stage of progess of a bill through parliament when it receives approval in principle or is rejected. The debate does not extend to consideration of details of its clauses.

Secretary General – A term used in many countries for the Clerk of the House.

Select Committees – Parliamentary committees that are constituted with very specific terms to deal with issues of major public concern.

Serjeant at Arms – The officer who is responsible for the security of the House and for physically enforcing the orders of the Speaker, for instance, in ensuring that suspended Members are removed from the House if they do not leave when ordered to do so by the Speaker.

Session – A period of meeting of a parliament from opening to prorogation or dissolution.

Sessional Orders – Procedural rules that automatically lapse at the end of that session of parliament.

Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles 1971 – The CHOGM declaration that outlines the core principles of the Commonwealth. It speaks of the belief that the Commonwealth can expand human understanding among nations, assist in the elimination of discrimination based on differences of race, color or creed, maintain and strengthen personal liberty, contribute to the enrichment of life for all, and provide a powerful influence for peace among nations.

Speaker – See Presiding Officer.

Standing Committee – A committee that is set up usually for the purpose of examining a proposed bill in parliament.

Standing Orders – Rules that specify the manner in which parliament should proceed to conduct its business under various circumstances. Standing Orders can be amended by parliament by a simple majority vote.

Statute of Westminster 1931 – A statute that gave legal backing to dominion arrangements for colonies of the British Empire.

Subcommittee – A committee that is a subset of a larger committee.

Third Reading – The final stage of progress of a bill through parliament. There is generally little or no debate at this stage since the principle of the bill has been examined at the second reading and the details at the committee stage.

Unicameral legislature – A parliamentary system with only one legislative chamber.

Upper House – One of two chambers of a bicameral legislature.

Whip – A Member of a political party in a legislature whose task is to ensure that Members of the party attend and vote, as the party leadership desires.