Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Cabinet Office
Abbreviation: CO
The government department that supports the Prime Minister, Cabinet and the effective running of government.
Call for Evidence
An invitation for written submissions to help inform a committee inquiry or review.
Candidate
A person standing for election to public office.
Care Quality Commission
Abbreviation: CQC
The independent regulator of health and adult social care services in England.
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.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Abbreviation: Chancellor
The senior minister responsible for the Treasury and the UK’s economic and fiscal policy.
Charity Commission for England and Wales
Abbreviation: Charity Commission
The regulator and registrar of charities in England and Wales.
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.
Civil Aviation Authority
Abbreviation: CAA
The UK regulator for civil aviation.
Civil Service Commission
The independent body now providing Business Appointment Rules advice for some senior Crown servants.
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.
Command Paper
Abbreviation: CP
A government paper formally presented to Parliament.
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 Privileges
Abbreviation: Privileges Committee
A Commons committee that considers matters relating to parliamentary privilege referred to it by the House.
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 on Standards
Abbreviation: Standards Committee
A Commons committee concerned with standards of conduct for MPs.
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Abbreviation: CSPL
The advisory body that promotes high ethical standards across public life.
Committee Report
A published report setting out a parliamentary committee’s findings and recommendations.
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.
Commons Journal
The official permanent record of decisions and proceedings in the House of Commons.
Commons Library
The House of Commons research service that publishes impartial briefings for MPs and the public.
Competition and Markets Authority
Abbreviation: CMA
The UK regulator responsible for competition and consumer protection enforcement.
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.
Constituency
A geographical area represented by an elected representative, such as an MP.
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.
Consultancy
Advisory or professional work provided to another organisation, often for payment.
Consumer Prices Index
Abbreviation: CPI
A measure of inflation based on changes in consumer prices.
Contempt of Parliament
Conduct that may obstruct or impede either House, its Members or its officers in their parliamentary work.
Content
The term used in the House of Lords for a vote in favour of a question.
Copyright
A legal right that protects original creative works from being copied or used without permission.
Count
The process of counting ballot papers after polling closes.
Creative Industries
Sectors of the economy based on creative work, such as film, music, publishing, design and the arts.
Crown Prosecution Service
Abbreviation: CPS
The public body responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in England and Wales.