Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Backbench Business Committee
A Commons committee that gives backbench MPs opportunities to bring forward debates.
Backbench Business Debate
A debate on a subject chosen by backbench MPs rather than by the government.
Ballot Paper
The paper on which a voter marks their choice in an election.
Bank Holiday
A public holiday that may affect parliamentary sitting patterns and publication schedules.
Bank of England
Abbreviation: BoE
The UK’s central bank, responsible for monetary policy and financial stability.
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.
Border Force
The Home Office command responsible for securing the UK border.
Boundary Commission
An independent body involved in reviewing parliamentary constituency boundaries.
Boundary Review
A review of parliamentary constituency boundaries.
Budget
A major statement setting out the government’s tax, spending and economic plans.
Business and Trade Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises the Department for Business and Trade.
Business Appointment Rules
Abbreviation: BARs
Rules applying when former ministers, civil servants and some Crown servants take up roles after leaving office.
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.
By-election
An election held to fill a seat that becomes vacant between general elections.