Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
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.