Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Act of Parliament
Abbreviation: Act
A law that has completed the parliamentary process and received Royal Assent.
Adjournment Debate
A debate, usually on a specific issue, held without a vote on a substantive motion.
Affirmative Procedure
A process requiring Parliament to approve a piece of delegated legislation before it can take effect.
All-Party Parliamentary Group
Abbreviation: APPG
An informal cross-party group of MPs and peers with no official status within Parliament.
Allocation of Time Motion
A motion limiting the time available for debate on a bill or other business.
Amendment
A proposed change to the wording of a bill, motion, or other parliamentary text.
Amendment Paper
A parliamentary paper listing amendments tabled to a bill or motion.
Annunciator
The parliamentary system that displays live information about current business in the Commons and Lords.
Backbench Business Debate
A debate on a subject chosen by backbench MPs rather than by the government.
Bank Holiday
A public holiday that may affect parliamentary sitting patterns and publication schedules.
Bill
A proposed law that must pass through Parliament before it can become an Act.
Bill Documents
The documents published alongside or during the passage of a bill.
Bill Stage
One of the formal steps a bill must pass through as it moves through Parliament.
Bill Stage Vote
A parliamentary vote taken as part of a bill’s progress through one of its formal stages.
Bills before Parliament
The official UK Parliament service for tracking bills currently or recently before Parliament.
Business Motion
A motion setting out how certain parliamentary business will be arranged or taken.
Business Papers
Parliamentary papers that set out the business scheduled or recorded for a House.
Business Questions
Questions to the Leader of the House about forthcoming Commons business.
Business Statement
A statement setting out forthcoming parliamentary business and scheduling.
Business Today
The part of the Commons Order Paper showing business scheduled for the current sitting day.
Carry-over Motion
A motion allowing a bill to continue into the next parliamentary session instead of falling.
Chamber
A formal debating space in Parliament, such as the House of Commons chamber or the House of Lords chamber.
Chiltern Hundreds
A Crown office used as a formal device allowing an MP to leave the House of Commons.
Christmas Recess
A break in parliamentary sittings around Christmas and New Year.
Clause
A numbered provision within a bill that may become a section of an Act if the bill becomes law.
Clerk of the Crown
The official involved in issuing election writs for parliamentary elections.
Closure Motion
A motion asking the House to end debate and move to a decision.
Commencement Order
A legal instrument that brings part or all of an Act into force.
Commencement Regulations
Regulations used to bring provisions of an Act into force.
Committal Motion
A motion deciding how or where a bill will be sent for detailed committee scrutiny.
Committee of the whole House
A stage where the entire House considers a bill in committee form, rather than sending it to a smaller committee.
Committee Sitting
A meeting of a parliamentary committee.
Committee Stage
The stage where a bill is examined in detail and amendments can be considered line by line.
Commons Business Papers
The official daily papers showing House of Commons business, including the Order Paper and related documents.
Conference Recess
A break in parliamentary sittings around the party conference season.
Confidence Motion
A motion used to test whether the government still has the support of the House of Commons.
Consolidation Bill
A bill that brings together existing law on a subject into a more orderly single Act, usually without major policy change.
Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010
Abbreviation: CRAG
The Act that sets out, among other things, a statutory process for parliamentary scrutiny of treaties before ratification.
Contempt of Parliament
Conduct that may obstruct or impede either House, its Members or its officers in their parliamentary work.
Decision on the Voices
A decision made when the House agrees or rejects a question without a recorded division.
Declaration of Interests
A statement by an MP about a relevant interest when taking part in parliamentary proceedings or communications.
Deferred Division
A Commons division postponed to a later scheduled time rather than taken immediately after debate.
Delegated Legislation
Law made under powers granted by an Act, rather than made directly through a new Act itself.
Delegated Legislation Committee
A Commons committee that debates certain statutory instruments and other delegated legislation.
Delegated Power
A power given by Parliament allowing ministers or another body to make detailed legal rules or take related action later.
Delegated Powers Memorandum
A document explaining why a bill gives ministers or others powers to make delegated legislation.
Departmental Questions
Commons oral questions addressed to ministers from a specific government department.
Draft Bill
A proposed bill published in draft form before being formally introduced in Parliament.
Draft Statutory Instrument
A proposed statutory instrument laid before Parliament before it is formally made.
Early Day Motion
Abbreviation: EDM
A formal motion tabled in the House of Commons, often used to draw attention to an issue or gather support from MPs.
Easter Recess
A break in parliamentary sittings around Easter.
Enabling Power
A provision in an Act giving ministers or another body authority to make delegated legislation or take other legal action.
Erskine May
The authoritative reference work on UK parliamentary law, privileges, proceedings and usage.
February Recess
A break in parliamentary sittings that may occur in February.
First Reading
The formal introduction of a bill in a House, normally without debate on its substance.
Forthcoming Business
Business expected to be considered by Parliament on future sitting days.
Framework Bill
A bill that sets up a broad legal structure while leaving detailed rules to later regulations or guidance.
Future Business
Parliamentary business scheduled or provisionally listed for later sitting days.
Future Day Orals
A Commons business paper listing oral questions tabled for future days.
Government Amendment
An amendment proposed by the government to change a bill or motion.
Government Bill
A bill introduced by the Government rather than by an individual MP or peer.
Government Business
Parliamentary business arranged by the Government, usually taking priority in the Commons.
Grand Committee
A Lords committee setting where legislation or other business can be debated in detail without formal votes.
Guide to the Rules
The detailed guide explaining how MPs should comply with the House of Commons Code of Conduct.
Guillotine Motion
An older term for a motion imposing strict time limits on debate.
Henry VIII Power
A power allowing ministers to amend or repeal provisions in an Act using delegated legislation.
House of Commons Code of Conduct
The rules setting expected standards of conduct for MPs in their public role.
Hybrid Bill
A public bill that affects certain people or bodies in a particular way beyond the general public.
Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme
Abbreviation: ICGS
Parliament’s independent mechanism for complaints about bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct.
Independent Expert Panel
Abbreviation: IEP
The independent panel that determines appeals and sanctions in certain cases involving MPs.
Keeling Schedule
A schedule showing how amended legislation would read if changes were inserted into the existing text.
Laid Paper
A document that has been formally laid before Parliament.
Leader of the House of Commons
Abbreviation: Leader of the House
The government minister responsible for organising government business in the Commons.
Legislative Consent Motion
Abbreviation: LCM
A motion by a devolved legislature giving or withholding consent to Westminster legislating in a devolved area.
Lobbying
Making the case for a policy, cause or interest directly to a decision-maker in order to influence decisions.
Lobbying for Reward or Consideration
The Commons rules restricting MPs from using parliamentary activity to benefit outside interests that reward them.
Lords Amendment
A change to a bill made by the House of Lords.
Lords Amendment Vote
A vote on whether to agree, reject or alter a change made by the House of Lords to a bill.
Lords Bill
Abbreviation: HL Bill
A bill that starts in the House of Lords or is marked as a Lords bill during its passage.
Lords Business
The official House of Lords business papers and documents for a sitting day.
Made Affirmative Procedure
A procedure allowing delegated legislation to be made and take effect before later parliamentary approval is required.
Main Business
The principal item or items scheduled for debate or decision in a sitting.
Main Chamber
The principal debating chamber of either House of Parliament.
Manor of Northstead
A Crown office used as a formal device allowing an MP to leave the House of Commons.
Manuscript Amendment
An amendment submitted too late to appear on the amendment paper but considered only if selected by the chair.
Marshalled List
A list of amendments arranged in the order in which they relate to a bill or are expected to be considered.
Members’ Financial Interests
Financial interests or benefits held by an MP that may need to be registered or declared.
Ministerial Correction
A correction made by a minister to information previously given to Parliament.
Ministerial Statement
A statement made by a minister to bring an important matter to Parliament’s attention.
Money Resolution
A Commons motion authorising public spending connected to a bill.
Motion for a New Writ
A Commons motion used to start the formal process for filling a vacant parliamentary seat.
MPs’ Guide to Procedure
An official guide explaining House of Commons procedure for MPs and their staff.
Negative Procedure
A process where delegated legislation becomes law unless Parliament objects within a set period.
New Clause
A proposed additional clause that could be added to a bill during scrutiny.
Non-Government Business
Parliamentary business that is not controlled directly by the Government.
Non-sitting Day
A day when a House of Parliament is not meeting to conduct ordinary business.
Notice Paper
A parliamentary paper giving notice of future business, questions, amendments or motions.
Opposition Day Debate
A debate chosen by an opposition party rather than by the government.
Oral Question
A question asked aloud in the chamber, with a minister answering in person.
Oral Statement
A spoken statement made by a minister in the chamber, followed by questions from members.
Order of Business
The order in which parliamentary business is scheduled to be taken.
Order of Oral Questions
The rota and order for departments to answer oral questions in the Commons.
Outside Employment
Paid work or roles held by an MP outside their parliamentary duties.
Paid Advocacy
A broad term for using a public position to promote an outside interest in return for payment or reward.
Paid Parliamentary Advice
A prohibited arrangement where an MP provides paid advice on parliamentary strategy, procedure or influence.
Pairing
An arrangement where two MPs from opposing sides agree not to vote so their absences balance out.
Paper Laid Before Parliament
A document formally presented to Parliament, often because legislation or procedure requires it.
Parliament Now
The UK Parliament service showing live information from the parliamentary annunciator system.
Parliamentary Calendar
A public schedule showing when Parliament is sitting and what business is planned.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Abbreviation: PCS
The independent House of Commons officer responsible for monitoring the Code of Conduct and registers.
Parliamentary Privilege
The rights and protections Parliament needs to carry out its work effectively.
Parliamentary Timetable
The planned order and timing of parliamentary business.
Periodic Adjournment
The formal procedural term for a recess.
Personal Statement
A short statement made by an MP or peer with permission, often to correct or explain a personal matter.
Petition
A formal request asking Parliament or one of its Houses to take action or consider an issue.
Petition Debate
A Westminster Hall debate on issues raised by one or more petitions.
Petitioner
A person or body that submits a petition to Parliament.
Ping-pong
The stage when a bill moves between the Commons and Lords as they try to agree on amendments.
Prayer Motion
A motion used to seek the annulment of a statutory instrument laid under the negative procedure.
Pre-legislative Scrutiny
The examination of a draft bill before it is formally introduced into Parliament.
Prime Minister’s Questions
Abbreviation: PMQs
The weekly Commons session in which the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs.
Private Bill
A bill that would change the law for specific individuals, organisations or localities rather than the general public.
Private Business
Parliamentary business relating to private bills or other matters affecting specific interests.
Private Member’s Bill
A bill introduced by an MP or peer who is not acting on behalf of the government.
Privilege Motion
A motion connected to parliamentary privilege, standards or possible contempt of Parliament.
Procedural Motion
A motion about how parliamentary business should be handled, rather than the substantive policy question itself.
Programme Motion
A motion that sets the timetable for a bill’s progress through the House of Commons.
Provisional Business
Business listed in advance but still subject to change.
Public Bill
A bill that would change the law as it applies to the general public.
Public Bill Committee
A Commons committee that examines most bills in detail after Second Reading.
Public Bill Committee Sitting
Abbreviation: PBC sitting
A meeting of a Public Bill Committee to examine a bill in detail.
Public Petition
A paper petition presented to the House of Commons by an MP.
Question Time
The period in a sitting when ministers answer oral questions from MPs or peers.
Reasoned Amendment
An amendment that sets out reasons for opposing a bill, often at Second Reading.
Recall of the House
An arrangement for the House of Commons to meet during a recess in exceptional circumstances.
Recall Petition
A process that can lead to an MP losing their seat and a by-election being held.
Recess
A break during a parliamentary session when the Houses do not meet to conduct business.
Rectification
A process used to resolve less serious breaches of the Commons standards rules.
Registrable Interest
An interest that an MP is required to place in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests
The official who gives advice on the MPs’ register and supports the registration of Members’ interests.
Relevant Interest
An interest that might reasonably be thought to influence an MP’s actions or words.
Remaining Orders
Commons business that has not yet been scheduled for a specific date.
Report Stage
The stage after committee scrutiny when the whole House can consider and vote on further amendments.
Return of the House
The date on which a House resumes sitting after a recess or other break.
Review Clause
A provision requiring a law or power to be reviewed after a certain period or in certain circumstances.
Rising of the House
The point at which a House finishes its business and adjourns.
Royal Assent
The formal approval required for a bill to become an Act of Parliament.
Schedule
A part of a bill or Act containing detailed provisions connected to the main clauses or sections.
Scheduled Business
Parliamentary business planned for a particular date or sitting.
Second Reading
The stage where Parliament debates the main principles and purpose of a bill.
Session
The period during which Parliament conducts business between one State Opening and the next.
Sessional Order
An order made for the duration of a parliamentary session.
Sitting
A meeting of either House of Parliament, or of a committee.
Sitting Day
A day on which a House of Parliament meets to conduct business.
Sitting Hours
The usual times during which a House meets to conduct business.
Skeleton Bill
A bill containing broad principles but leaving much of the detail to be filled in later by delegated legislation.
Speaker of the House of Commons
Abbreviation: Speaker
The MP elected by the House of Commons to chair debates and maintain order.
Speaker’s Warrant
The formal instruction from the Speaker that leads to a new writ for a Commons by-election.
Standards Investigation
An inquiry into whether an MP may have breached the House of Commons Code of Conduct or related rules.
Standing Order
A formal rule governing how Parliament or one of its Houses conducts business.
State Opening of Parliament
The formal ceremony that marks the start of a parliamentary session.
Statutory Consultation
A consultation that the law requires to take place before a decision, regulation, or other action is taken.
Statutory Guidance
Official guidance issued under legal authority, which public bodies may be required to follow or take into account.
Statutory Instrument
Abbreviation: SI
A form of secondary legislation made under powers granted by an Act of Parliament.
Statutory Instrument Committee
A general term for a committee arrangement used to consider statutory instruments.
Statutory Instrument Vote
Abbreviation: SI vote
A parliamentary vote on delegated legislation, usually a statutory instrument or draft statutory instrument.
Summer Recess
The main summer break in parliamentary sittings.
Sunset Clause
A provision causing part of a law to expire automatically at a set time unless renewed.
Super-affirmative Procedure
An enhanced scrutiny procedure giving Parliament more time and opportunity to consider delegated legislation before approval.
Suspension from the House
A sanction preventing an MP from sitting in the House for a specified period.
Tabling
The formal act of putting forward a question, motion or amendment in Parliament.
Ten Minute Rule Bill
A type of Private Member’s Bill introduced after a short speech seeking the House’s leave.
Third Reading
The final stage in one House, where members debate the bill in its near-final form.
Topical Questions
Short-notice oral questions that allow members to raise current issues with ministers.
Urgent Question
Abbreviation: UQ
A question allowed at short notice so a minister must come to the House and answer on an urgent matter.
Ways and Means Resolution
A Commons motion authorising tax or charge provisions connected to a bill.
Westminster Hall Debate
A Commons debate held away from the main chamber, usually on a general motion without a vote.
What’s on in Parliament
The UK Parliament service showing scheduled Commons and Lords business.
Whitsun Recess
A break in parliamentary sittings around late May or early summer.
Writ
A formal legal document used to authorise an election or other official action.
Writ of Election
The formal document that authorises an election to fill a seat in the House of Commons.
Written Ministerial Statement
A formal written statement by a minister to Parliament, usually used to announce decisions or provide official information.
Written Question
A question submitted in writing to a minister, with the answer given in writing.
Written Statement
A written statement by a minister placed on the parliamentary record.