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Grand com

mittees.

Committee

of privileges.

Entry of proceedings

in the

XIV.

disagreed to, postponed, or recommitted to the committee.1 Chapter
Resolutions which have been recommitted to a committee
of the whole house, and reported, have been again recom- from
mitted to the committee.2

committee of supply,

In the Commons, the principal proceedings in committees see p. 628. of the whole house are in reference to bills (see p. 483), and the voting of supply, and ways and means (see p. 603); of which a description will be found in the chapters relating to these matters.

Since 1832, the annual appointment of the ancient grand committees for religion, for grievances, for courts of justice, and for trade, has been discontinued. They had long since fallen into disuse, and served only to mark the ample jurisdiction of the Commons in Parliament. When they were accustomed to sit, they were, in fact, constituted like committees of the whole house, but sat at times when the house itself was not sitting.

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The ancient committee of privileges is also analogous to a grand committee, consisting of certain members specially nominated, of all knights of shires, gentlemen of the long robe, and merchants in the house; and "all who come are to have voices." This committee is still appointed at the commencement of each session: but it is not nominated or appointed to sit, unless there be some special matter to be referred to it, as was the case in 1847.1

In the Commons, the proceedings of committees of the whole house have been entered in the journals since the journals. 23rd February, 1829, when the Speaker submitted to the house that arrangements should be made to effect that object, to which the house assented. In the "Votes

1 112 C. J. 227; 119 ib. 333; 75 ib. 379; 76 ib. 440; 95 ib. 169; 77 ib. 314; 83 ib. 509; 77 ib. 314; 119 ib. 122.

283 ib. 533.

31 ib. 220. 822. 873. 1042, &c.; 2 ib. 3. 153. 202. 321, &c.; Lex Parl. 339; Scobell, 35-38; 4 Rushworth, Col. 19; see also 3 Lord Colchester's Diary, 481; 3rd April, 1626, 1 C. J.

843; 14th April, 1641; 2 ib. 120, &c.

103 ib. 139 (West Gloucester Election). In 1904 and 1905 the committee, which was ordered to consist of seven members, was nominated, but as no matter arose for its consideration it did not sit, 159 ib. 258; 160 ib. 60.

5 84 ib. 78.

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Chapter and Proceedings," all amendments in committee on bills, upon which divisions arise, are entered: but other amendments are only referred to in general terms. And the Lords have more recently adopted a similar form of entry in their journals. In a committee of the whole house, it is customary for the clerk assistant to officiate as Clerk.

committees

The transaction of public business in the House of Com- Standing mons was forwarded by the appointment, during the session on law, of 1883, pursuant to resolutions agreed to on the 1st trade, &c. December, 1882, of standing committees for the consideration of bills relating to law, courts of justice, and legal procedure, and to trade, shipping, and manufactures. These committees, on the one hand, are, in procedure and method, assimilated to select committees, and are, on the other hand, in the number and choice of members, more representative than a select committee, and follow in many respects the method of business adopted by committees of the whole house.2 The resolutions of 1st December, 1882, for the appointment of the standing committees, were not, until the 7th March, 1888, placed among the standing S. 0. 46, Appendix I. orders of the house, when it was ordered that bills relating to agriculture and fishing be deemed bills relating to trade. Two standing committees are accordingly appointed Nomina during each session, pursuant to standing orders Nos. 47. standing 48. and 49, for the consideration of such bills relating to tees. law and courts of justice and legal procedure, and to trade, S. O. 47. shipping, manufactures, agriculture, and fishing, as may be pendix I. committed to them. These standing committees, consisting

1191 H. D. 3 s. 574; 110 Parl. Deb. 4 s. 1073.

The appointment of standing committees was an attempt to meet the demand made upon the time of the house by the consideration of bills in a committee of the whole house. For example, in 1879, the committee on the Army Discipline and Regulation Bill held twentytwo sittings; in 1881, the committee on the Irish Land Bill thirty-nine sittings, and the Pre

vention of Crime (Ireland) Bill
thirty-one sittings.

3 In sessions 1894 and 1895 a
standing committee was appointed
for the consideration of all bills
introduced by a minister of the
crown relating exclusively to Scot-
land, which might by order of the
house be committed to it. The
committee consisted of all the

members representing Scottish
constituencies together with fifteen
(in 1895 twenty) other members

tion of

commit

48. 49, Ap

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of not less than sixty, nor more than eighty, members, are Chapter nominated by the committee of selection, who are in their nomination to regard the classes of bills committed to the Committee of Seleccommittees, the composition of the house, and the qualifi- tion, see p. cations of the members selected.

745.

The committee of selection has the power of adding not more than fifteen members to a standing committee in respect of any bills referred to it, to serve on the committee during the consideration of such bill; and of discharging members serving on the standing committees, and of appointing others in substitution for those discharged. Chairmen's The committee of selection also nominates a chairmen's panel. panel, consisting of not less than four, nor more than six, members, of whom three are the quorum; and the chairmen's panel appoint from among themselves the chairman Adjournof each standing committee, and may change the chairman, so appointed, from time to time. The quorum of a stand-absent, see ing committee is twenty.

Procedure in standing committees.

The rules and standing orders applicable to select committees are, by standing order No. 47, made applicable to standing committees, unless the house shall otherwise order. Members have the right of access, as in the case of select committees (see p. 408), to the room occupied by a standing committee; and strangers are admitted, except when Chairman's the committee shall order them to withdraw. The chairman of a standing committee also, following the rule in select committees (see p. 411), can only vote when there is an equality of voices.2 As is the rule regarding all committees, a motion for the previous question would be out of order in a standing committee. Standing committees cannot sit

vote.

nominated by the committee of
selection, 149 C. J. 106; 150 ib. 232.
For a proposal to commit a bill
relating to London to a com-
mittee of all the members repre-
senting London constituencies and
fifteen members nominated by the
committee of selection, see 149 ib.
318.

1 The chairmen's panel resolved
in 1902 that any member of the

panel was empowered to ask any
other member of the panel to take
his place in case of necessity, 157
ib. 90.

2 When the chairman states his
reasons for his vote they are entered
on the Minutes of Proceedings;
Standing Committee on Law, etc.;
Trades Unions and Trades Disputes
Bill, 5th April, 1905, Parl. Paper,
No. 154, p. 9.

ment,

p. 406.

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Chapter after three o'clock whilst the house is sitting, without the order of the house, which is obtained before the commencement of public business, upon a motion, made without notice given, by the chairman, or by a member in his behalf.1

Instructions to standing

of bills to

mittees.

No notice is required of a motion to commit a bill to a Reference standing committee, and this motion can be made though standing the bill is under consideration by a committee of the whole com house (see p. 499). Upon this motion, debate must be restricted to the effect of the reference of the bill to a standing committee, or to its expediency; and general debate upon the merits or clauses of the bill is not permitted.2 An amendment to insert at the end of the motion the words, "upon this day six months," has been ruled to be out of order.3

Notice of an instruction to a standing committee can. stand upon the notice paper, either after the motion for see p. 481.' referring a bill to the committee, or as an independent

committees,

Previous

question not

motion.1

ings of

mittees.

permissible, The proceedings of a standing committee are assimilated, Proceedsee p. 284. as far as possible, to those of a committee of the whole standing house. The doors of the room in which the committee sits comare locked during a division, and every member present when the question is put must vote, and if he has not heard the question, the chairman will again state it to him. A standing committee has also the power of determining the

139 Parl. Deb. 4 s. 1362. Orders so obtained have referred to the day upon which they were made (158 C. J. 342, etc.), or to every day on which the committee might sit until the conclusion of a specified bill, 150 ib. 209; 151 ib. 113; 152 ib. 229; 153 ib. 112; 154 ib. 162; 156 ib. 256. Standing committees have also been enabled to sit on future days during the sitting of the house until the conclusion of a bill upon a motion made (with notice) at the commencement of public business by a minister of the crown, 147 ib. 269; 151 ib. 167; 155 ib. 310. On

20th July, 1904, the standing com-
mittee on trade met, but adjourned
immediately, as the sitting of the
house of the previous day had not
been concluded.

2 Criminal Code (Indictable Of-
fences) Bill, 16th April, 1883, 278
H. D. 3 s. 333. 335. 341; 287 ib.
1870; 4 Parl. Deb. 4 s. 305, 1310.
3 278 ib. 394.

• Standing committees have been
empowered by instruction to con-
solidate two bills into one bill, 138
C. J. 141; 145 ib. 418; 146 ib. 254;
156 ib. 324; 158 ib. 280.

Duties of standing

com

mittees.

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question of a personal interest in a vote.1 Notices of Chapter
amendments, given in the house, are printed and circulated
with the "Votes," and stand referred to the committee,
although the member who gives the notice is not a
member of the committee. The members address the
chair standing; amendments are proposed under the rules
in force in the house; and the minutes of proceedings are
printed and circulated, with the divisions upon every
question.2 Closure cannot be moved in a standing com-
mittee, but the chairman possesses an inherent right, when
he sees that the transaction of business is becoming im-
possible, to shorten discussion. Thus chairmen of standing
committees, when they have considered that an amendment
has been discussed adequately, have proceeded to put the
question thereupon without allowing further debate. They
have also declined to accept a motion for the adjournment
of the committee,5 or have put the question upon such a
motion without permitting debate.6

3

It is the duty of standing committees, as it is the duty of all committees, to fulfil, as far as possible, the duty laid upon them by the house, and to give to the matters referred to the committee due and sufficient consideration. The following examples of procedure show that, whilst a stand- Powers of ing committee can, without an infraction of this rule, over bills, see pp. 491, report a bill to the house in an incomplete state, a motion 499. intended to obtain that object, moved to prevent the further progress of the bill in the committee, was not permitted.

1 99 C. J. 447.

2 144 ib. 160; 145 ib. 243.

3 10 Parl. Deb. 4 s. 912.

Standing Committee on Law, Clergy Discipline (Immorality) Bill, 23rd and 24th May, 1892, see Times, 24th and 25th May. Places of Worship Enfranchisement Bill, 23rd March, 1893; Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, 18th May, 1903, Parl. Paper No. 218, p. 8; Standing Committee on Trade, Compensation for Damage to Crops Bill, 21st March, 1905, Parl. Paper No. 97, p. 7.

Standing Committee on Law,
Aliens Bill, 27th June, 1904, Parl.
Paper No. 242, p. 12; Labourers'
(Ireland) Bill, 26th July, 1904, Parl.
Paper No. 284, p. 9. Standing Com-
mittee on Trade, Compensation for
Damage to Crops Bill, 21st March,
1905, Parl. Paper, No. 97, p. 7.
Standing Committee on Law, Trade
Unions and Trade Disputes Bill,
8th May, 1905, Parl. Paper No. 154,
p. 20.

Standing Committee on Law,
Marriage with a Deceased Wife's
Sister Bill, 18th May, 1903.

committees

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