Download Word

House of Representatives                                Ch 6                                                 p 173

Procedural

The source s of procedural authority are described at pages 185 to 187.

The Speaker presides over the debates of the House and ensures that they are conducted according to the formal procedures, but does not normally participate in debates ( but see p. 176).

The duties performed in the Chair are probably the Speaker’s most important and onerous. One of the duties is to ensure that the rules of parliamentary procedure as embodied in the standing orders and practice are accurately and correctly interpreted and applied. The Speaker interprets the standing orders, deals with points of order when they are raised and gives rulings when called upon to do so ( see p. 187). He or she calls upon Members wishing to speak. The standing orders provide a graduated code of disciplinary powers to enable the Speaker to maintain order. These powers are progressive in their severity and allow the Speaker to deal with various breaches of order in the most appropriate manner. The Speaker does not vote in the House except in the event of the numbers being equal, in which case he or she has a casting vote ( see p. 182). The Speaker may make statements or announcements to the House when necessary. ¹

It is the Speaker’s duty to call the House together following an adjournment by resolution to a date and hour to be fixed.

At the commencement of each day’s sitting, the Speaker, being satisfied that a quorum is present, reads the Prayers set out in the standing orders. Having read Prayers, the Speaker then calls the Clerk to call on the various items of business in the order set down in the standing or sessional orders in force at the time.

E.g. VP 1996-98/378.