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

DateDescription
02.08.2013House of Commons Background Paper: Traditions and customs of the House
This note outlines a number of the lesser-known and more unusual customs, procedures and behaviours of the House of Commons. It covers aspects of debate in the Chamber of the House; aspects of protocol; and specific traditions.
02.08.2013House of Commons Background Paper: Divisions in the House of Commons
This Standard Note describes the current practice and historical development of divisions.
16.07.2013Parliamentary privilege: current issues
This Note provides information on developments in parliamentary privilege since the last major review by the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege report in 1999.
15.07.2013PIL: MPs who have withdrawn from the House of Commons or who have been suspended
A list of Members who have withdrawn from the Commons Chamber or who have been suspended.
09.07.2013PIL: Ballot Bills since 1997
Ballot Bills since 1997

Research Papers

DateDescription
11.02.2011Wash-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.
06.02.2006Legislative 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
08.08.2005Armed Forces (Parliamentary Approval for Participation in Armed Conflict) Bill: Bill 16 of 2005-06
10.05.2002Departmental select committees
Departmental select committees. House of Commons Library Research Paper 02/35. This paper has been superseded by Research Paper 09/55
19.03.2001Election 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

DateDescription
08.02.20122010 elections for positions in the House.
Government response. Procedure Select Committee report [Commons]
30.01.2012Grand Committees; Questions for Written Answer.
Procedure Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
11.01.2012Debates on government e-petitions.
Procedure Select Committee report [Commons]
05.12.2011Questions for short debate; Standing Order 37.
Procedure Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
24.11.2011Debates on motions in Grand Committee.
Procedure Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
12.10.2011FUTURE 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 ...
21.06.2011PUBLIC 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 ...
11.05.2011TRIBALISM 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, ...
28.04.2011REPORT 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 ...
17.11.2010VOTER 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

DateDescription
11.10.2012House 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.
10.04.2012Delegated 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.
21.07.2011House 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.
11.02.2011Wash-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.
17.01.2011Debate 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".
20.08.2010Maiden 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.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords