PARLIAMENTARY EXPRESSIONS AND PRACTICES
PARLIAMENTARY EXPRESSIONS AND PRACTICES In the second of a three-part series, this article looks at the origins and history of some of the parliamentary expressions and practices used in many Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures.
PART TWO
Ravindra Garimella is a
Consultant at the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Parliament of India. He has been a regular contributor to The Parliamentarian and writes the Third Reading reports on behalf of the Parliament of India for the Journal.
‘Whips’1 Political parties have a significant role in the working of a democratic polity. ‘Whips’ in turn have role cut out for them in smooth conduct of party affairs particularly in matters pertaining to House proceedings. The outcome of their endeavours and the efficacy of ‘whips’ is manifest in the effective conduct of the passage of legislation and from a larger perspective, the House proceedings. A ‘whip’ is a person, a crucial office bearer who also issues directives or manages directions issued by the party. Simply put, ‘whips’ are the office bearers of political or Legislature party officers with certain assigned tasks. ‘Whips’ are Members of Parliament who are appointed by each party in Parliament to help organise their party’s contribution to parliamentary business. One of their responsibilities is making sure the maximum number of their party Members vote, and vote the way their party wants. The use of the word ‘whip’ within the UK Parliament has its roots in the 18th century hunting terminology ‘whipper-in’ where it refers to a huntsman’s assistant who drives straying hounds back to the main pack using a whip. In many Parliaments, ‘Whips’ frequently act as the ‘tellers’ (counting votes in divisions). They also manage the ‘pairing system’ whereby Members of
opposing parties both agree not to vote when other business (such as a Select Committee visit overseas) prevents them from being present in Parliament. ‘Whips’ are also largely responsible (together with the Leader of the House) for arranging the business of Parliament. In this role they are frequently referred to as ‘the usual channels’. ‘Whips’ is also the term given to the directives or voting instructions given to Members by the party, usually in a weekly notice. In their connotation as party directives or orders, the ‘whips’ or directions are said to be of three types – a one-line, two-line or three-line ‘whips’. These are so called by the number of lines by which their text is underlined. The number of lines is indicative of the importance and urgency attached to a particular measure before the House. Colours used in the UK Houses of Parliament2 In the Westminster system of parliamentary democracies, the colour Green is associated with the Lower House (usually comprising of directly elected representatives of the people) and Red within the Upper House (the House of Elders or appointed representatives, by and large popularly known in the UK as the House of Lords). Originating in the UK Parliament at Westminster, these traditional colours have been adopted by many
Commonwealth Parliaments over the years. These colour codes have an interesting legacy behind them and they have emerged as a time honoured convention. House of Commons (Green) The colour Green is the principal colour for furnishings and fabrics throughout the Chamber and corridors used by the UK Parliament’s House of Commons, except in some of the carpets which were designed for the post-Second World War rebuilding, where a mottled brown was used. From 1981, volumes of Hansard for the House of Commons were
“In the Westminster system of parliamentary democracies, the colour Green is associated with the Lower House (usually comprising of directly elected representatives of the people) and Red within the Upper House (the House of Elders or appointed representatives).”
The Parliamentarian | 2020: Issue Three | 100 years of publishing 1920-2020 | 255
