the two houses was adopted. On the 24th May, 1855, reXVII solutions, which had been communicated by the Lords, Chapter at a conference, were agreed to by the Commons, whereby messages forthwith. Messages accordingly, as a rule, occasion no interruption, Lords' though the business of the house that is in course of trans- communiaction when a message from the Lords is received, is cated occasionally interrupted; for instance, when the Speaker communicates the message to the house, whereupon motions are made, and questions are put from the chair which arise. upon the communication of the message (see p. 505). character A conference, whereby both houses are brought into General direct intercourse with each other, by deputations of their of a con own members, is the most formal and ceremonious method ference. of communicating important matters by one house of Parliament to the other; and while the managers are at the conference, the deliberations of both houses are for a Either house may demand a conference upon matters Subjects which, by the usage of Parliament, are allowed to be proper conference. occasions for such a proceeding; as, for example: (1) To communicate resolutions or addresses to which the concurrence of the other house is desired.2 (2) Concerning the privileges of Parliament.3 (3) In relation to the course of proceeding in Parliament. (4) To require or communicate statements of facts on which bills have been passed by the other house.5 (5) To offer reasons for disagreeing to or insisting on amendments made by one house to bills passed by the other. On all these and other similar matters, it is regular to When to be demand a conference: but as the object of communications demanded. of this nature is to maintain a good understanding between 110 C.J. 254. 287 ib. 421; 88 ib. 488; 89 ib. 232; 95 ib. 422; 112 ib. 363, &c. 39 ib. 344. 89 ib. 220; 90 ib. 656; 91 ib. 225; 102 ib. 861. 5 19 ib. 630. Purpose to be stated. Reasons offered by XVII. the houses, it is not proper to use them for interfering with Chapter In demanding a conference, the purpose for which it is Conferences were formerly demanded, in order to offer message or reasons for disagreeing to amendments to bills, until 1851, conference. when, by resolutions of both houses, agreed to at conferences Time and place of 12th and 15th May, 1851, messages between the two houses It is the privilege of the Lords to name both the time and meeting place of meeting, whether the conference be desired by themselves or by the Commons. The agreement of both houses to a conference is communicated by message. Managers appointed. Each house appoints managers to represent it at the conference, and, by "ancient rule," the number of the Commons named for a conference is double that of the Lords." It is not, however, usual according to later practice to 1 See resolution, 1 C. J. 114. 22nd Aug. 1641, 2 ib. 581; 22nd March, 1678, 9 ib. 555; see also 51 ib. 5; 32 Parl. Hist. 188; 4 Hatsell, 23. 385 C. J. 478 (Sir J. Barrington); 88 ib. 488 (E. I. C. Charter); 89 ib. 232 (Union with Ireland). 106 ib. 210. 217. 223. Messages were, by resolution, 24th April, 1866, 7 1 ib. 154. XVII. Chapter specify the number of the managers for either house. The managers of the house which desires the conference are the members of the committee who draw up the reasons, to whom others may be added; and the managers of the other house are selected from the members who have taken an active part regarding the bill, if present; or other members may be named, who happen to be in their places. But it is not consistent with the principles of a conference to appoint managers whose opinions do not coincide with the objects thereof.1 managers. The duty of the managers-for they are not allowed to Duty of speak—is confined to the delivery and receipt of the resolutions to be communicated, or the bills to be returned, with reasons for disagreeing to amendments. One of their number reads the resolutions or reasons, and afterwards delivers the papers on which they are written, which is received by one of the managers for the other house. When the conference is over, the managers return to their respective houses and report their proceedings. Messages have now practically superseded conferences in Conferrelation to bills but the former course of proceedings must ences in regard to still be briefly explained. Let it be supposed that a bill sent bills. up from the Commons has been amended by the Lords and returned; that the Commons disagree to their amendments, draw up reasons, and desire a conference; that the conference is held, and the bill and reasons are in possession of the House of Lords. If the Lords should be satisfied with the reasons offered, they send a message to acquaint the Commons that they do not insist upon their amendments. But if they insist upon any of their amendments, they desire another conference, and communicate the reasons of their perseverance. If the Commons persist in their disagreement to the Lords' amendments, they were formerly precluded, by the usage of Parliament, from desiring a third conference; and unless they allowed the bill to drop, laid it aside, or deferred the consideration of the reasons and amendments, they desired a free conference. This practice, 1 C. J. 350; 122 ib. 438. Free conference. Forms of holding a conference. XVII. however, was departed from on one special occasion. In Chapter A free conference differs materially from the ordinary 4 When the time appointed for a conference has arrived, business is suspended in both houses, the names of the managers are called over, and they leave their places, and repair to the conference chamber. The Commons, who come first to the conference, enter the room uncovered, and remain standing the whole time within the bar, at the table. The Lords have their hats on till they come just within the bar of the place of conference, when they take them off and walk uncovered to their seats; they then seat themselves, and remain sitting and covered during the conference. The lord (usually the lord privy seal) who receives or delivers 1 91 C. J. 783. 2 92 ib. 466. 512. 589. 646. By order, 16th Jan. 1702, none but managers are to stand within the bar. XVII. Chapter the paper of resolutions or reasons stands up uncovered, while the paper is being transferred from one manager to the other but while reading it he sits covered. When the conference is over, the Lords rise from their seats, take off their hats, and walk uncovered from the place of conference. The Lords who speak at a free conference, do so standing and uncovered.1 Joint committees of means of A few words may be added concerning other means of Other both houses, communication between the two houses, less less open and communisee p. 421. ostensible than those already described. The representa- cation. tion of the executive government by ministers, in both 1 4 Hatsell, 28, n.; see also Lords' s. o. Conferences, 101-103; 1 C. J. 156. |