Parliamentary procedure

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on Parliamentary procedure. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
30.01.2013	House Business Committee
	In November 2009, the Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons recommended the establishment of a House Business Committee to 'assemble a draft agenda to put to the House in a weekly motion'. On 4 March 2010, the House approved the establishment of a House Business Committee in the current Parliament.
29.01.2013	Select Committees: evidence and witnesses
	This Note reviews the power of select committees 'to send for persons, papers and records', that is to obtain oral and written evidence. The Note considers arguments that have been made to increase select committees' abilities to enforce these powers without recourse to the House. It reviews the arguments for requiring witnesses to give evidence on oath to select committees.
18.12.2012	House of Commons Background Paper: Statutory Instruments
	This House of Commons Background Paper discusses statutory instruments and outlines how they are considered by the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
18.12.2012	House of Commons Background Paper: Private Bills
	This House of Commons Background Paper sets out how private bills are passed through the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
18.12.2012	House of Commons Background Paper: Public Bills
	This House of Commons Background Paper sets out how legislation is passed through the House of Commons and the House of Lords and explains the terms involved.

Research Papers

Date	Description
11.02.2011	Wash-up 2010
	The wash-up period at the end of a Parliament allows a Government to get onto the statute book essential or non-controversial legislation that would not otherwise complete its passage through Parliament because of Dissolution. This paper describes the wash-up process; reviews the proceedings on wash-up in 2010; and provides details of Bills that received Royal Assent in each of the last six wash-up periods.
06.02.2006	Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (Bill 111 2005-06)
	The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (Bill 111 of 2005-06). House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/06
08.08.2005	Armed Forces (Parliamentary Approval for Participation in Armed Conflict) Bill: Bill 16 of 2005-06
10.05.2002	Departmental select committees
	Departmental select committees. House of Commons Library Research Paper 02/35. This paper has been superseded by Research Paper 09/55
19.03.2001	Election of a commons speaker
	Election of a Commons Speaker (2nd ed). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/30. (Replaces Research Paper 00/90)

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
08.02.2012	2010 elections for positions in the House.
	Government response. Procedure Select Committee report [Commons]
30.01.2012	Grand Committees; Questions for Written Answer.
	Procedure Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
11.01.2012	Debates on government e-petitions.
	Procedure Select Committee report [Commons]
05.12.2011	Questions for short debate; Standing Order 37.
	Procedure Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
24.11.2011	Debates on motions in Grand Committee.
	Procedure Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
12.10.2011	FUTURE COSTS OF SEPTEMBER SITTINGS
	That this House notes the Answer of 11 October 2011, Official Report, column 319W, on sitting days, which states that to avoid an accumulation of a backlog of works, further September ...
21.06.2011	PUBLIC WHIP WEBSITE
	That this House believes that constituents have the right to know how hon. Members vote; recognises the important work of the Public Whip website over the past eight years in explaining ...
11.05.2011	TRIBALISM IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
	That this House notes that the success of any non-Government or Opposition amendment to proposed legislation, if pressed to a vote, is regarded as a likely occasion for lamentation, ...
28.04.2011	REPORT OF THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE
	That this House notes paragraphs 287 and 288 of the report of the Speaker's Conference on Parliamentary Representation about the challenges faced by hon. Members who are parents of ...
17.11.2010	VOTER RECALL AND THE REMOVAL OF HON. MEMBERS
	That this House believes that the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1983 relating to the removal of democratically-elected Members of Parliament should be repealed; ...

Lords Library Notes

Date	Description
11.10.2012	House of Lords: Reform of Working Practices, 2000-2012
	This Library Note summarises significant proposals to change working practices and procedures in the House of Lords.
10.04.2012	Delegated Legislation in the House of Lords since 2000
	This Library Note provides information on the powers, conventions and practice of the House of Lords in dealing with delegated legislation.
21.07.2011	House of Lords Reform: Chronology 1900-2010
	This Library Note provides a chronology of key developments in the reform of the House of Lords since 1900.
11.02.2011	Wash-up 2010
	This Library Note describes the wash-up process; reviews the proceedings on wash-up in 2010; and provides details of bills that received Royal Assent in each of the last six wash-up periods.
17.01.2011	Debate on 20 January: Constitutional and Parliamentary Effect of Coalition Government
	This Library Note aims to provide background reading for the debate on 20 January 2011: "To call attention to the constitutional and parliamentary effect of Coalition Government".
20.08.2010	Maiden Speeches LLN 2010/019
	This House of Lords Library Note provides the text of selected recent maiden speeches to illustrate the range of styles and subjects covered by new Members in their first contribution in the Chamber. It also includes an index of Members' maiden speeches in the Lords since 2006.