Halifax West High School Model Parliament

Rules of Model Parliament

The rules and regulations of this House have evolved over the years to suit our
requirements, and are designed to expedite the business of the Parliament. The following
items are the most frequently referred to.

1. Members must stand when the Speaker is announced and remain standing until
the Speaker is seated. When the Speaker leaves, the House must rise and remain
in their places until the Speaker leaves the House.

2. Every member, desiring to speak, is to rise in his or her place and to address the
Speaker by saying “Mr. Speaker”. Do not speak until you have been recognized
by the Speaker. When a member has been recognized by the Chair, other
members must sit down. The Speaker is addressed as Mr. Speaker and referred
to as “Your Honour”.

3. No members shall refer to another member by name. Members are referred to as

“The Honourable Member for…”; “The Honourable Minister of…”; “The
Right Honourable Prime Minister” or “The Honourable Leader of the
Opposition”; “the Honourable Member who has just spoken”; “the
Honourable Member opposite”; “my Honourable Friend”; etc.

4. No personal attacks are permitted.

5. Members have the privilege of addressing questions to a Cabinet Minister

during the Question Period. State the question clearly and say to whom it is
addressed.
Example: “Mr. Speaker : I should like to direct a question to the Honourable
Minister of Labour. Is the minister taking steps to prevent a repeat of the
disruption of the postal service that was so costly to the public three years ago?”
Should the answer not be entirely satisfactory: “Mr. Speaker may I ask a
supplementary question?”

6. For certain good reasons a member may interrupt a member who is

speaking:

a. Point of Order: A point of order pertains to a breach of the rules of the

House. The Speaker will then ask to have the point stated, and will make a
ruling.
Example: “Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.”

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 b. Point of Privilege: A point of privilege is asking permission to do or say
something not in the ordinary course of business. The procedure is the
same as in a point of order. Points of Privilege are generally used to call
attention to things such as the presence of a special guest in the audience,
and are not common.

c. Point of Information / General question: To interrupt a member who is

making a speech; rise and say: “Mr. Speaker, would the Honourable
Member entertain a question?” or “Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of
information.” If the answer is “yes”, the member will state the question
through the Speaker. If the member should reply “at the end of my speech,
or when I have finished speaking”, the question must wait.

7. The time limits on speeches will be enforced strictly. Interruptions will not be
counted as speaking time. A warning bell will sound when the member has 15
seconds remaining.

8. No member, except the mover or member closing debate may speak twice on
a motion. The member may, with permission of the Speaker, ask a question.

9. A member is not to read their speech, but may refer to notes.

10. Voting: Normally votes in the house are voice votes, where the Speaker calls for
the ayes and nays. If for any reason a count of members is desired, five members
must stand in their place saying: “division” at which time the Speaker will allow
three minutes to bring party members before the count.

11. When a member is called to order, it is their duty to bow to the decision of the
chair. Failure to do so will mean removal from the House.

12. Members of the House will refrain from unnecessary noise and conversation
when the House is sitting. This courtesy will be appreciated by the members
speaking and by the visitors who come to our sittings.

13. Members when they enter or leave the House, or cross the floor, must bow to the
chair and to any member who is speaking. This is done in a dignified manner
from the centre aisle of the House. Unnecessary activity should be avoided.

14. Pages are to carry messages pertaining to business of the House. Too much page
activity disturbs who is speaking and makes it impossible for visitors to follow
House proceedings. Messages are to be kept to an absolute minimum. Pages are
not permitted to carry messages from outside the House. Pages must not be used
to send personal notes.

15. No messages may be sent during Question Period.

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16. All gimmicks and tricks must be cleared in advance with the Speaker.

17. Party whips or leaders will give a copy of their seating plans to the Clerk of the
House before the first sitting. At the same time they will pass in a list of the
party's speakers in order of speaking, for the next sitting.

18. Each party leader has the absolute right to determine who sits for his or her party.
Changes may be made before a sitting or during a recess of a sitting.

19. No vote that could result in the defeat of the government may be taken until after
the discussion of the Government Bill on Saturday.

20. When in doubt about proper procedure, send a note to the Clerk of the House.

21. When the occasion arises, party leaders may be required on a Point of Privilege to
acknowledge a particular visitor in the gallery.

22. Dress Code:

a. Gentlemen will wear shirts, ties, and jackets (if one is owned).
b. Ladies will not be permitted to wear jeans.