The Parliament thus constituted, consisting of King, Lords, and Commons, is invested with absolute power. Besides the power of making and repealing all laws, it can new-model the succession to the crown ; alter the established religion of the land ; and even change the constitution of the kingdom, and of Parliament itself. The privileges of Parliament are very large, and indeed are not strictly defined. Amongst them, that of free dom of speech is the most important and salutary. It is particularly demanded of the King in person by the Speaker of the House of Commons, at the opening of every new parliament. Another privilege consists in the protection of the persons of the members of both Houses from arrest. This privilege, however, does not extend to treason, felony, nor to the case of writing and publishing seditious libels. The franking of letters is also a privilege common to the members of both Hou ses of Parliament. There are some privileges peculiar to the House of Lords. As they constitute the highest law court in the kingdom, they have a right to be at tended by the Judges, the Sergeants at law, and the Masters in Chancery. Every peer, on obtaining licence from the king, can constitute another Lord of Parlia ment his proxy, to vote for him in his absence. The peers also enjoy the right of protest ; that is, each peer may enter on the journals of the House his reasons for dissenting from any vote which passes contrary to his wishes. The privileges peculiar to the House of Com mons relate principally to the raising of taxes. All grants of subsidies or parliamentary aids, by the ancient indisputable privilege and right of the House of Com mons, begin in their House; nor do they ever suffer the Lords to make any change in the money bills which are sent up to them.
On the opening of every session of parliament, the king, either in person or by his commissioners, address es both Houses, in a speech from the throne. After this, the regular business of Parliament commences. In the House of Lords the Lord Chancellor generally presicleg as speaker, and regulates their proceedings. The House of Commons always elect their own speaker, who must, however, be presented to the king for his approbation. The speaker of the house of Commons cannot give his opinion, unless the house be resolved into a committee, where he loses, for the time, his character of speaker. The spe-lker of the upper House is always at liberty to take part: in the debate. The Commons cannot proceed to business unles there be 40 members present. Two peers, however, besides the speaker, are sufficient to constitute a House of Lords. All bills, except money bills, may originate in either House. A member first gives notice of his intention to move for leave to bring in a bill. When leave is given, it is read a first time ; and at a convenient distance, a second time. After each reading, the speaker puts the question, whether it shall proceed any further ? In the house of Commons, the speaker cannot vote unless the ayes and noes be equal, and then his casting vote decides the majority. But in
the House of Lords, the speaker votes with the House; and if the contents and non•contents be equal, the latter have the effect of an absolute majority. In the House of Commons, two tellers are appointed to count the votes on each side.
After the second reading the bill is committed, that is, referred to a committee, eithea select, or of the whole House. In the latter case, the speaker leaves the chair, and another person is appointed chairman of the com mittee. In a committee, each member may speak on the question as often as he pleases ; whereas, during the regular sittings of the House, no person can speak more than once on any subject, unless in explanation, with the exception of the member who made the motion be fore the House, who has the privilege of replying, at the conclusion of the debate. The chairman of the com mittee reports the bill to the House ; after which it is read a third time; and one of the members is directed to carry it to the Lords for their concurrence. Here it goes through the same forms as in the other House. When the bills have passed both Houses, they are al ways deposited in the House of Lords, to wait the royal assent, except bills of supply, which are returned to the Commons. The royal assent is given either by the king in person, or by commission. When the royal assent in either way is given to a bill, then it becomes an act of parliament, and not before. The king, as well as each House of Parliament, possesses the consti tutional power of rejecting any bill; but this power has not been exercised since the year 1692, when King Wil liam III. refused to pass the bill for triennial parliaments into a law. , Strictly speaking, no strangers have a right to be present in either House during parliamentary proceed ings; but in fact, admission is easily obtained. When, however, a division is about to take place, strangers are obliged to withdraw. Till within a comparatively re cent period, neither House would permit their debates to be published; but at present they are regularly and fully given to the public in the newspapers.
The duration of Parliament was formerly for three years; but in the beginning of the 18th century, the duration was extended to seven years. It seldom hap pens, however, that Parliament sits out this period.
It is not necessary that there should be the formal promulgation of an act to give it the force of a law ; but copies of it are usually transmitted to the chief ma gistrates throughout the kingdom. When a law is once made, it cannot be repealed, amended, or dispensed with, but by the same authority, and by going through the same forms, by which it was enacted.