| Term |
Definition |
| Act of Parliament |
A Bill passed by Parliament and assented to by the President. (See also Passage of a Bill and President’s Assent) Arts 58 and 59 of the CRS. |
| Address of Thanks |
After the President has delivered his address at the Opening of Parliament, a motion will be moved that an Address expressing the thanks of Parliament for the speech of the President be agreed to by the House. The debate on the motion shall be confined to the policy of the Government as outlined in the speech. Five days are allotted for this debate. (See also President’s Address) S.O. 15. |
| Adjourn |
To put off or postpone. |
| Adjournment of Debate |
Sometimes the business at hand cannot be concluded in one sitting. For example, there may be more Members wanting to speak than can be accommodated in that sitting, or the debate may spread over several days, such as the debate on the President’s Address and the business of Supply. In such circumstances, a Member may move a motion “That the Debate be now adjourned” or, where the House is sitting in committee, “That the Chairman do report progress and ask leave to sit again”. The Speaker will then ask the Member in charge of the business under discussion to name a later day for the debate to resume. S.Os. 27 and 73(2). |
| Adjournment of Parliament |
To end a sitting of the House, a Minister may move the motion, “That Parliament do now adjourn”. If the motion is agreed to, the meeting for that day ends and will resume on the next sitting day. Parliament may alternatively adjourn to a specific date in the future or to a date to be fixed. The motion may also be moved as a procedural device for a Member to raise a definite matter of urgent public importance for debate. (See also Adjournment to Debate a Definite Matter of Urgent Public Importance, and Right to Raise a Matter on a Motion for Adjournment) S.Os. 2(8)(b), 24 and 28. |
| Adjournment to Debate a Definite Matter of Urgent Public Importance |
Upon leave being given by the House, a Member may rise after Question Time (or Ministerial Statement, if there is one) to move an adjournment for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance. No prior notice before a sitting is required, but the Member must hand to the Speaker a written notification of the matter which he wishes to raise before the start of the sitting. (See also Adjournment of Parliament) S.O. 24. |
| Admonition |
An admonition is a mild reprimand for Members or strangers who breach the rules of the House. (See also Reprimand and Stranger) |
| Allotted Day |
A day set aside for the debate of a specific business under the Standing Orders. On the allotted day, that business shall stand as the first item and a minimum period of time is provided for its debate. The debate can only be interrupted or postponed upon a complaint or motion affecting the powers and privileges of Parliament. The Standing Orders provide for allotted days to debate on the President’s Address, the Annual Budget Statement and the business of Supply. |
| Amendment |
A Bill or motion before the House may be agreed to with certain changes. These changes are known as amendments. They are made by moving an amendment to the Bill or motion to add or delete certain words and substitute them with others. S.Os. 37 and 74. |
| Anticipation |
If Parliament has ordered that a matter is to be debated on a certain date and a Member pre-empts discussion on that matter by raising it on an earlier occasion, he is said to be anticipating the matter. This is not permitted under the Standing Orders. S.O. 53. |
| Article |
Each numbered paragraph in the Constitution is referred to as an “Article”. This corresponds to a “section” in an Act of Parliament and a “clause” in a Bill. |
| Aye |
An old English word used for voting “yes” in Parliament. |
