CALL OF TELE HOUSE is an imperative summons to every member of parliament of either house on some particular occasion, when the sense of the whole house is deemed necessary. In the house of lords, when any urgent business is deemed to require the attendance of the lords, it has been usual to order the house to be called over; and this order has sometimes been enforced by fines and imprisonment upon absent lords. On some occasions, the lord chancellor has addressed letters to all the peers, desiring their attendance, as on the illness of George III., 1st Nov., 1810. The most important occa sion on which the house was called over, in'modern times, was in 1820, for the trial of queen Caroline.
When the house of commons is ordered to be called over, it is usual to name a day which will enable the members to attend from all parts of the country. The interval between the order and the call has varied from one day to six weeks. If it be really intended to enforce the call, not less than a week or ten days should intervene between the order and the day named for the call. The order for the house to be called over is
always accompanied by a resolution "that such members as shall not then attend, be sent for, in custody of the sergeant-at-arms." And it was formerly the custom to desire the speaker to write to all the sheriffs to summon the members to attend. On the day appointed for the call, the order of the day is read and proceeded with, postponed, or dis charged, at the pleasure of the house. If proceeded with, the names are called over, according to the counties, which are arranged alphabetically. The members of a county are called first, and then the members for every city or borough within that county. The counties in England and Wales are called first, and those of Scotland and Ireland in their order. This point is mentioned, because it makes a material difference iu the time at which a member is required to be in his place.—See May's Proceed. in Purl., on Attend ance of Members.