PARLIAMENT. Blackstone says that the first use of the French word parlement, to signify a General Assembly of the State, was under Louis VII. of France about the middle of the 12th cen tury.
The British Parfitment. —The legis lature of Great Britain and Ireland con sists of the sovereign and the Houses of Lords and Commons. It arose long prior to the union of the kingdoms as the English Parliament. The first use of the word parliament in the statutes of England is in the preamble to the Statute of Westminster, A. D. 1272. The germ of the institution existed, however, long before the name arose. Each of the kingdoms of the Saxon heptarchy, or ctotarchy, seems to have had its wittena gemote, or meeting of wise men, which, on the union of the several kingdoms, became united into one great assembly or council. The powers of Parliament are very great. Not merely can it de stroy any ministry, it can alter, and has in fact altered, the succession to the throne. At the Reformation it trans ferred property enjoyed by the Church of Rome and altered the National re ligion, endowing Protestantism with money given for Roman Catholic pur poses. Parliament is called together by the sovereign, who appoints the time and place of meeting, and opens the proceed ings by the delivery of a speech, either personally or by deputy. Each house can adjourn, but neither can be pro rogued except by the sovereign. Each judges of its own privileges. Members of both houses are free from arrest or imprisonment on civil actions, but their property can be seized for debt. No
quorum is needed for the transaction of business in the Upper House; 40 is the quorum in the Lower.
French Parliament.—A parliament arising about 987. It met at different places. In 1190 Philip Augustus insti tuted the Parliament of Paris. In 1302 it was divided into three chambers. It was suppressed in 1771, revived in 1774, demanded a meeting of the States-Gen eral in 1787, and was superseded by the National Assembly Nov. 3, 1789. A French parliament still exists, but not the name.
Irish Parliament.—A parliament held in Ireland when it was an independent country. In 1295 writs for knights of the shires were issued. It met for the last time on Aug. 2, 1800, the union with Great Britain having terminated its existence.
Scotch Parliament.—A parliament held in Scotland when it was an inde pendent country. It has been traced back to a council held at Scone under the auspices of John Banjo], in 1282. There was but a single house, consisting of lords temporal and spiritual, occa sionally with burgesses. Having passed the Act of Union with England on Jan. 16, 1707, its last meeting took place on April 22, of that year.
In English Law.—An assembly of the members of the Middle and Inner Temple to consult on the affairs of the society.