Next week all four Houses will take a break. Both of the Westminster Houses went into recess yesterday. This break is known as the 'Whitsun Recess'. The House of Representatives will have the 'Memorial Day District Work Period' and the Senate will also observe that holiday and take the week off - though as any of the Members and staff of all Houses will know, the work doesn't stop.
The Washminster blog will appear less frequently next week .
Friday, 25 May 2007
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
A Constitution for Britain?
Mr. Graham Allen presented a Bill to provide for the drawing up of a written constitution for the United Kingdom; for its consideration by the people and Parliament of the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time on 19 October, and to be printed [Bill 114].
There's no chance of this bill becoming law (even if it got a 2nd Reading on 19th October - the session is likely to end in early November) - but Mr Allen, a respected writer and campaigner for constitutional reform - and MP for Nottingham North, is again drawing our attention to an issue that deserves consideration.
There's no chance of this bill becoming law (even if it got a 2nd Reading on 19th October - the session is likely to end in early November) - but Mr Allen, a respected writer and campaigner for constitutional reform - and MP for Nottingham North, is again drawing our attention to an issue that deserves consideration.
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Cloture
"The Senate Monday voted 69-23 on cloture for the comprehensive immigration legislation that a bipartisan group of senators has introduced after months of negotiations."
The Cloture procedure was designed to allow a super-majority of Senators to bring an end to a filibuster or delaying tactics by a single Senator or a minority of members. It limits debate - but doesn't immediately end proceedings on a matter. There are various steps which must be taken - both before and after the cloture is agreed.
A cloture motion must be signed by 16 members and presented to the presiding officer. On the second calendar day after that the motion is put to the vote - and requires three fifths of all senators (60 unless there is a vacancy).
Thirty hours of floor consideration are then allowed - a time which may be extended by a further 3/5th vote - and Senators who have used less than 10 minutes of the hour allowed to them are guaranteed up to a further 10 minutes after the 30 hours has elapsed - once that time is ended there will be the votes on any pending amendments and the underlying proposal itself.
A fuller description of the procedure and rules can be found in the Congressional Research Service paper by Walter Oleszek at:
http://www.opencrs.com/rpts/98-780_20050307.pdf
The Cloture procedure was designed to allow a super-majority of Senators to bring an end to a filibuster or delaying tactics by a single Senator or a minority of members. It limits debate - but doesn't immediately end proceedings on a matter. There are various steps which must be taken - both before and after the cloture is agreed.
A cloture motion must be signed by 16 members and presented to the presiding officer. On the second calendar day after that the motion is put to the vote - and requires three fifths of all senators (60 unless there is a vacancy).
Thirty hours of floor consideration are then allowed - a time which may be extended by a further 3/5th vote - and Senators who have used less than 10 minutes of the hour allowed to them are guaranteed up to a further 10 minutes after the 30 hours has elapsed - once that time is ended there will be the votes on any pending amendments and the underlying proposal itself.
A fuller description of the procedure and rules can be found in the Congressional Research Service paper by Walter Oleszek at:
http://www.opencrs.com/rpts/98-780_20050307.pdf
Monday, 21 May 2007
A Brit in the White House?
The Sunday Times has reported:-
"AN Essex girl may be the first lady with a tongue stud to have set her sights on the White House. The wife of Dennis Kucinich, a left-wing Democratic congressman and 2008 presidential candidate, is a 29-year-old hippie chick from Upminster at the end of London Underground’s District line.
Elizabeth Kucinich, née Harper, has been on the stump with her husband, a 60-year-old anti-war campaigner from Cleveland, Ohio, mingling with the likes of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama backstage at the Democratic presidential debates. “There’s a kind of camaraderie,” she said."
Those who know London will have noted that Upminster is on the line which goes westwards to Westminster - perhaps it even goes further West?
"AN Essex girl may be the first lady with a tongue stud to have set her sights on the White House. The wife of Dennis Kucinich, a left-wing Democratic congressman and 2008 presidential candidate, is a 29-year-old hippie chick from Upminster at the end of London Underground’s District line.
Elizabeth Kucinich, née Harper, has been on the stump with her husband, a 60-year-old anti-war campaigner from Cleveland, Ohio, mingling with the likes of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama backstage at the Democratic presidential debates. “There’s a kind of camaraderie,” she said."
Those who know London will have noted that Upminster is on the line which goes westwards to Westminster - perhaps it even goes further West?
Sunday, 20 May 2007
Whips
On Friday evening we had a Government Whip, Steve McCabe MP, speak to our Fabian Society branch in Rugby. At the moment I'm reading Gyles Brandreth's book 'Breaking the Code: Westminster Diaries'. Mr Brandreth was a government whip in the Major Government.
There are some important difference between whips in the four Houses serving the UK and the US. In fact there are four wholly different environments in which they operate.
Each House has its own set of sanctions and incentives that whips can use to encourage members to vote the desired way. The power of patronage is at its greatest in the House of Commons. Members who seek appointment to ministerial office need the recommendation of the whips. Even permission to be away from the House for a meeting is at the discretion of the whips office. Rebels can have their their chances of appointment to office or participation in the committee stage of a particular bill blocked by the whips - they could even face deselection.
In the Lords members are likely to be less ambitious for office. Many have "been there, done that". They can't be removed from the House - since appointment is for life. Removal of the whip - in effect suspension or expulsion - from the party hurts the party more than the individual.
The Senate gives the greatest power to minorities to block action. A disaffected Senator can cause more trouble for his party, than the whips can cause for him. Whipping in that environment needs different skills.
The House of Representatives has the largest whip organisation. In a Congressional Research Service report in 2002 it was reported that the Democrats had 1 Chief Whip; 6 Chief Deputy Whips; 12 Deputy Whips; 70 'At Large' whips and 24 regional whips. The Republicans had 1 Chief; 1 Chief Deputy; 17 Deputies and 49 'Assistant Whips'. In the House of Commons there are 16 whips and in the Lords only 8.
There are some important difference between whips in the four Houses serving the UK and the US. In fact there are four wholly different environments in which they operate.
Each House has its own set of sanctions and incentives that whips can use to encourage members to vote the desired way. The power of patronage is at its greatest in the House of Commons. Members who seek appointment to ministerial office need the recommendation of the whips. Even permission to be away from the House for a meeting is at the discretion of the whips office. Rebels can have their their chances of appointment to office or participation in the committee stage of a particular bill blocked by the whips - they could even face deselection.
In the Lords members are likely to be less ambitious for office. Many have "been there, done that". They can't be removed from the House - since appointment is for life. Removal of the whip - in effect suspension or expulsion - from the party hurts the party more than the individual.
The Senate gives the greatest power to minorities to block action. A disaffected Senator can cause more trouble for his party, than the whips can cause for him. Whipping in that environment needs different skills.
The House of Representatives has the largest whip organisation. In a Congressional Research Service report in 2002 it was reported that the Democrats had 1 Chief Whip; 6 Chief Deputy Whips; 12 Deputy Whips; 70 'At Large' whips and 24 regional whips. The Republicans had 1 Chief; 1 Chief Deputy; 17 Deputies and 49 'Assistant Whips'. In the House of Commons there are 16 whips and in the Lords only 8.
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