Steve's story

Steve has been telling his story for half an hour already. Would you like to listen to him? That's what he is saying:

«Many forms and rules of parliamentary procedure date back to the beginning of the sixteenth century.

People outside Great Britain believe that if they elect the man to sit in the Parliament he has a seat there. But the House of Commons has seats for only about two thirds of its members. Thus on great occasions when the House is full, members have to sit in the gangways. Only four members of the House of Commons have reserved seats: the Speaker, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the member who is in the Parliament for the longest unbroken period. Ministers sit on the front bench, but have no right to any particular seat there.

The Queen usually opens the new session of Parliament. When she takes her seat on the throne she sends the official of the House of Lords, called Black Rod,1 to call the Commons. When he arrives at the door of the House of Commons they bang it in his face to show their independence. After this they follow Black Rod into the chamber of the House of Lords, where they stand while the Queen reads her speech. During the election of the Speaker, when he is going to his great chair at one end of the House, he struggles and pretends that he doesn't wish to accept the honour. This comes from the days when men were afraid to become the Speaker. It was because the sovereign and the House of Commons often quarrelled and the Speaker's duty of acting as go-between was both difficult and dangerous.

Nowadays the Speaker no longer takes part in debates as other members do. He presides over the debates and decides which member is to speak at any particular moment. Often several wish to speak and they stand up and try «to catch the Speaker's eye», as they call it. The Speaker doesn't take part in the debates, and he doesn't vote at the end of them. But if the Government and the Opposition gain an equal number of votes, then the Speaker has the casting vote.

1. Who has reserved seats in the Parliament?

2. Have the ministers right for reserved seats?

3. Who opens the session of the Parliament?

4. Where does the Queen send Black Rod?

5. Do the members of the House of Commons follow Black Rod?

6. Why were the men afraid to become Speaker?

7. What is the business of the Speaker nowa days?

8. Why do the members stand up and try «to catch the Speaker's eye»?