Parliament

Both houses approach the Crown, sometimes by joint addresses, but usually by separate addresses from each house. Such addresses are presented to His 1Vrajesty, either by the whole house, or by the lords with white staves in one house and by privy councillors in the other. His Majesty answers, in person, addresses presented by the whole house ; but, when presented otherwise, an answer is brought by one of the lords with white staves, or by one of the privy councillors, by whom the address has been presented. Resolutions of either house are also sometimes directed to be laid before His Majesty; and messages of congratulation or con dolence are sent to other members of the royal family.

The Passing of Public Bills.

The passing of bills forms the most considerable part of the business of parliament; for an account of the methods of procedure reference should be made to the article PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. But the privileges of the Commons, in regard to supply and taxation, require that all bills imposing a charge upon the people should originate in that house. On the other hand, the Lords claim that bills for restoration of honours or in blood, or relating to their own privileges and juris diction, should commence in their house. An act of grace, or general pardon, originates with the Crown, and is read once only in both houses.

Both houses are approached by the people by means of petitions, of which prodigious numbers are presented to the House of Commons every session. They are referred to the committee on public petitions, under whose directions they are classified, ana lysed, and the number of signatures counted; and, when necessary, the petitions are printed in extenso.

Other Functions.

The exclusive right of the Commons to grant supplies, and to originate all measures of taxation, imposes a very onerous service upon that house. This is mainly performed by two committees of the whole house—the committee of supply, and the committee of ways and means. The former deals with all the estimates for the public service presented to the house by command of His Majesty; and the latter votes out of the Consoli dated Fund such sums as are necessary to meet the supplies already granted, and originates all taxes for the service of the year. It is here that the annual financial statement of the chan cellor of the exchequer, commonly known as "the Budget," is de livered. The resolutions of these committees are reported to the house, and, when agreed to, form the foundation of bills, to be passed by both houses, and submitted for the royal assent ; and towards the close of the session an Appropriation Act is passed, applying all the grants for the service of the year.

Whenever a vacancy occurs during the continuance of a parlia ment, a warrant for a new writ is issued by the Speaker, by order of the house during the session, and in pursuance of statutes during the recess. The causes of vacancies are the death of a member, his being called to the House of Peers, his acceptance of an office from the Crown, his bankruptcy, or a resolution for his expulsion, a matter which is absolutely within the jurisdiction of the House. When any doubt arises as to the issue of a writ, it is usual to appoint a committee to inquire into the circum stances of the case; and during the recess the Speaker may re serve doubtful cases for the determination of the house.

Controverted elections had been originally tried by select com mittees, afterwards by the committee of privileges and elections, and ultimately by the whole house, with scandalous partiality, but under the Grenville Act of i77o, and other later Acts, by select committees, so constituted as to form a more or less judicial tribunal. At length, in 1868, the trial of election petitions was transferred to judges of the superior courts, to whose determina tion the house gives effect, by the issue of new writs or otherwise. The house, however, still retains and exercises its jurisdiction in all cases not relegated, by statute, to the judges.

Other forms of parliamentary judicature still remain to be mentioned. Upon impeachments by the Commons, the Lords exercise the highest criminal judicature known to the law; but the occasions upon which it has been brought into action have been very rare in modern times. Another judicature is that of the trial of peers by the House of Lords. And, lastly, by a bill of attainder, the entire parliament may be called to sit in judg ment upon offenders.

One other important function of parliament remains to be noticed—that of private bill legislation. Here the duties of parliament are partly legislative and partly judicial. Public inter ests are promoted, and private rights secured. This whole jurisdic tion has been regulated by special standing orders, and by elab orate arrangements for the nomination of capable and impartial committees. A prodigious legislative work has been accom plished—but under conditions most costly to the promoters and opponents of private bills, and involving a serious addition to the onerous labours of members of parliament.