Questions tagged [procedure]
Questions related to a government body taking a specific action within its normal course of operations. Use with the relevant body and country tags
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Why did members who wanted to raise a point of order during a division have to wear a top hat while talking in the House of Commons in the UK?
I read on https://notesfromtheuk.com/2019/07/05/hats-and-the-house-of-commons/:
Anyone who wanted to raise a point of order during a division (which in the normal world would be called a vote) had to ...
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Who limits what sensitive/secret information is shared with the US House Armed Services Committee? Can they get whatever they want for "oversight"?
Background; elected officials considered "vetted" by election and receive no formal background check before receiving sensitive/secret information
Politico's January 5, 2023 Speaker debacle ...
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If Kevin McCarthy becomes Speaker of the US House of Representatives, can he be removed later? [duplicate]
At present (January 6th 2023) Kevin McCarthy is trying to be elected as Speaker of the House. As there is a majority of Republicans in the new house, you might expect this to be straightforward, but ...
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What is the procedure for electing a Speaker of the House by plurality vote?
In 1849 and 1856, the US House of Representatives elected a speaker by plurality vote after repeated failures to elect one by majority vote (62 failed ballots in 1849, 132 in 1855-1856). What is the ...
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What is the origin of the 'no photography' rule in the House of Commons?
While reading through Hansard to research a separate question, I came across the following exchange:
Mr Speaker: Order. Someone has flashed a camera. It is quite serious to take photographs in the ...
CDJB♦
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Why would voting for a US House Speaker candidate from a majority party be "taboo" and punishable if you're a member of a minority party?
If I'm a US House representative and a member of the numerical minority party, and the majority party is struggling to get consensus on a candidate for House Speaker that I find particularly ...
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I don't understand the current Harry Dunn/Anne Sacoolas situation, and why the virtual court appearance?
I think I am missing something about this case (particularly the criminal case), because I don't understand the current situation and legally/politically, how it got there and where it's at.
My ...
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What is the implicit meaning of abstaining from voting at the UN? [closed]
Recently, India abstained from voting against China regarding the Uyghur persecution question.
What does it imply when a country abstains from voting at any of the UN councils?
In the case of the UNSC,...
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What are the advantages for the Government of presenting policy in a general debate rather than as a ministerial statement?
The i news this morning says that Liz Truss plans to unveil her plan to attempt to tackle the energy crisis in Britain:
Liz Truss will outline the Government’s plan to save households and businesses ...
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What kind of US house vote was it that first upheld then struck down the Casey Amendment to Title IX? Can the Speaker always call for a revote?
Notes to the June 24, 2022 New York Times video MINK! — My Mom Fought For Title IX, but It Almost Didn’t Happen | Op-Docs end with:
...Wendy Mink narrates her mother’s groundbreaking rise to power ...
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What does "Boris Johnson has a hundred and sixty MPs on his payroll anyway who were going to vote for him because they're within the government" mean?
Moments after the vote of confidence on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson results were announced live on CNN, MP David Lammy (Labor) listed results of previous (recent) votes of confidence saying ...
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Origin of bill "urgency" in the Philippines, how does it work and how widespread is it in other democracies?
From the Philippine News Agency's December 30, 2021 article Duterte signs law creating Department of Migrant Workers
The creation and establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers is one of ...
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"motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table" & "Madam president... I note the absence of a quorum" What do these mean? Why funny?
In CNN's April 8, 2022 Applause erupts in Senate chamber after Brown Jackson is confirmed there is this little vignette between US Vice President Kamala Harris and the Senate Majority Leader Chuck ...
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Does US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts have recusal power over another Justice if they don't do it themself? (e.g. Clarence Thomas)
In the 2022-03-27 ABC News video Ginni Thomas texts to Meadows is a 'textbook' case for recusal: Sen. Klobuchar | ABC News after 03:24 ABC's Jonathan Karl quotes two text messages from Ginni Thomas, ...
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What/when are the filing deadlines after which Alice Stewart predicts Republican congress members will start saying Let's stop talking about the past?
Political commentator Alice Stewart has made an interesting prediction; Republican politicians will begin to say "Let's stop focusing on the past" (Donald Trump's loss in 2020 and associated ...
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Do coalition partners in German parliament always sit next to each other?
The political parties in German parliament sit in a half circle, traditionally arranged from left wing to right conservative. It is not always clear which party is left or right of which others so the ...
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First day a 2022 US congress could vote to shut down Jan 6th commission? How quickly after could the commission be effectively curtailed or shut down?
After about 02:36 in the CNN video Retired generals warn an insurrection could succeed next time, Seung Min Kim, Washington Post White House reporter says (my transcription):
...and obviously this ...
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How might Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the UK House of Commons "play hardball"?
In a statement to the House of Commons on the 13th December 2021, the Speaker expressed frustration at the Prime Minister's failure to appear in the chamber, following a televised statement the ...
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How would the Crown change New Zealand's name to Aotearoa in order to help restore the status the Māori language?
CNN's Māori Party campaigns to change New Zealand's name to Aotearoa links to Maoriparty.org's petition Change our official name to Aotearoa.
The Crown is mentioned in two paragraphs of the petition's ...
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Was Speaker Nancy Pelosi's rejection of Republican representatives Jordan and Banks "unprecedented"?
Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided to block two Republican House members from the house select committee formed to investigate on January 6th. The Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy has ...
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Has it already been discussed in Congress about what to do with the Confederate statues at the Gettysburg National Military Park?
I would like to know if it has already been discussed in Congress about what to do with the Confederate statues located at the Gettysburg National Military Park, or if there is a future date that has ...
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What are the motivations of holding closed-door negotiations or talks?
WASHINGTON — The United States is initiating a closed-door
negotiation that could open up new areas to whale hunting for the
first time in decades, part of an attempt to end a long-standing
impasse ...
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House of Commons clarification on clapping
From my current understanding, MP's are not allowed to clap in the House of Commons. Instead, they say (or shout) "hear" to express themselves.
However, after having watched this video, I've ...
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What was the original purpose of the reading aloud of a bill in the US Senate before voting; were there rules requiring anyone to listen?
Forbes' Senate Chamber Empties As Reading Of 628-Page Relief Bill Gets Underway begins
Senators vanished from the U.S. Senate chamber on Thursday as clerks begin reading the upper chamber’s 628-page ...
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Did Jackie Weaver have the legal authority to remove the chairman of the parish council during a meeting?
During a meeting of the Handforth parish council on December the 10th seen here, the chairman of the council was removed from a Zoom meeting by the Zoom meeting host. The recording of this meeting has ...
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Which aspects of US Senate structure 18th and 19th century can be seen as “concessions to the planter class” and to slavery?
From the recent interview of Adam Jentleson, former deputy chief of staff to Democratic Sen. Harry Reid by NPR reporter Audie Cornish Former Senator's Staffer On What Senate Might Do In Response To ...
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Why are there so few polling sites in New York?
Early voting is open in many places, including New York City.
The New York Times reports long lines at the polling stations with waiting times of several hours, sometimes deterring voters.
It reports ...
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To what extent will Canada's prime minister and its governor general coordinate the upcoming Throne Speech with the queen?
After seeing Al Jazeera's Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan to dominate Trudeau throne speech
Justin Trudeau is set to unveil ‘broad’ plan that includes healthcare and job support when Parliament ...
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How does a "delivery of military aid" play out in practice?
I am referring to the episode regarding the Ukraine conflict, where there was security assistance supposed to be paid by the United States to Ukraine.
How does this "release of aid" actually play out?...
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Are there any legislature that has a seat-switch system similar to the NI Assembly?
The Northern Ireland Assembly has a "seat-switch system" (co-option) that allows for MLAs to be replaced without holding by-elections.
As the BBC explains:
Co-option is the only option when ...
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What does it mean for a document to be added into the Congressional Record during a committee hearing?
While watching the impeachment hearing with Ambassador Taylor, I sometimes heard committee members ask to enter articles (e.g. opinion articles from the New York times or an article from Politco) into ...
JJJ♦
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Did past presidential impeachment inquiries have basic defendant's rights?
In a recent letter on behalf of the president to the House committees on impeachment, the president's counsel Pat A. Cipollone wrote:
I write on behalf of President Donald J. Trump in response to ...
JJJ♦
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Does the US require a House vote to begin an impeachment inquiry?
Does the US require a House vote to begin an impeachment inquiry?
News sources such as this CNN article seem to show a disagreement between the White House saying that a House vote is required, while ...
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How does the Privy Council produce advice?
The Meeting of Parliament Act 1797 and the Prorogation Act 1867 both grant the monarch powers "by and with the advice of the Privy Council". What is the process by which the Privy Council decides what ...
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Can the senate majority leader postpone a vote on impeachment? [duplicate]
In an infamous column in the Washington Post entitled Mitch McConnell is a Russian asset, it's argued that the senate majority leader repeatedly has postponed bills with bipartisan support so they ...
JJJ♦
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Is it ever possible to suspend the PM from the House of Commons?
From this Wikipedia page, it states that
Members of Parliament (MPs) can be suspended from sitting in the House of Commons by the Speaker for "disorderly conduct". The Speaker can order that an MP ...
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What are the US House of Representatives rules on holding a non-cooperating witness in contempt of Congress?
From The Washington Post's ‘We’ve been very weak’: House Democrats decry their oversight of Trump, push Pelosi on impeachment:
Several Democrats on the panel privately pressed House Judiciary ...
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Is May’s deal still on the table?
These last weeks have been a firework of Brexit news in the UK and among others led to at least one politician (Michael Gove) admitting he would vote for May’s deal if it returned to parliament (I ...
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What is the latest date a general election in the UK can prevent a no-deal Brexit
Under the assumption that Boris Johnson becomes PM and intends to carry out a no-deal Brexit on the 31st of October, Dominic Grieve has said a number of MPs would be willing to bring down the ...
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What European countries have secret voting within the Legislature?
Most, if not all, democratic countries in Europe elect representatives to the national legislature by some form of secret ballot. For example the UK uses secret election on the first-past-the-post ...
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Are there recesses during the U.N. Security Council?
Are there recesses during the U.N. Security Council? I have watched a dozen of UNSC meetings and none of them had recesses. Is it because most meetings only last a few hours like 3-4 maximum? What ...
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What is the role of the president of the UN Security Council?
What is the role of the president of the UN Security Council?
More specifically, is he who decides which countries will speak and in which order? What happens if a representative of a country ...
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How does someone in Australia get access to a list of Politicians meetings?
In the report "Who is in the room? Access and influence in Australian Politics" the report talks about numbers of meetings with ministers which implies that the list of meetings is somehow accessible. ...
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Why does John Bercow say “unlock” after reading out the results of a vote?
In video from the House of Commons, whenever John Bercow reads the results of a vote, he says “unlock” at the end. For example, from last night:
The Ayes to the right, 329. The Noes to the left, ...
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How does the European Parliament assess if a person represents a security risk or not?
EU Observer tells us about a person who is both working for European Parliament and quite close to Putin:
Elizaveta Peskova, the daughter of Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry
Peskov, is working ...
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Can the Speaker of the House of Representatives be replaced?
What are the requirements to replace the Speaker of the House?
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What are the constitutional and broader implications of today's vote by Parliament, finding that the govt was in contempt?
According to the BBC, today's vote by the UK Parliament that finds the government in contempt, is said to have "huge" constitutional and political significance".
Setting aside the immediate issue ...
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Why is there such a long delay before putting the "Meaningful Vote" to the British Parliament
The EU-UK Brexit deal was agreed and released to the EU, UK Parliament and the public on the 14th of November.
The 27 EU countries met and agreed the content on the 25th November, but the same ...
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What does Nicholas Watt mean that May has “enough tellers for her Brexit vote”?
From journalist Nicholas Watt on Twitter:
With two Tory MPs supporting Theresa May’s deal she has one breakthrough: enough tellers for her #Brexit vote
I believe this is a reference to some system ...
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Has the DNC barred Sanders from contending in the 2020 Democratic primaries?
The DNC has recently approved some structural reforms, many which are suspect in several ways IMHO, but a particularly interesting one is the following (ignore the pen markings, just read the second ...
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