Contents of the book
Contents of 1st edition • Book I: Constitution, Powers, and Privileges of Parliament. • Chapter I: Preliminary view of the constituent parts of Parliament: The Crown, The Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses; with incidental reference to their ancient history and constitution. • Chapter II: Power and Jurisdiction of Parliament collectively. Rights and Power of each of its constituent parts. • Chapter III: General view of the Privileges of Parliament: Power of commitment by both Houses for Breaches of Privilege. Causes of commitment cannot be inquired into by Courts of Law; nor the prisoners admitted to bail. Acts construed as Breaches of Privilege. Different punishments inflicted by the two Houses. • Chapter IV: Privilege of Freedom of Speech confirmed by the ancient law of Parliament and by statute: its nature and limits. • Chapter V: Freedom from Arrest or Molestation: its antiquity; limits, and mode of enforcement. Privilege of not being impleaded in civil actions: of not being liable to be summoned by subpoena or to serve on juries. Commitment of Members by Courts of Justice. Privilege of witnesses and others in attendance on Parliament. • Chapter VI: Jurisdiction of Courts of Law in matters of Privilege. • Book II: Practice and Proceedings in Parliament. • Chapter VII: Introductory remarks. Meeting of a new Parliament. Election and Royal Approbation of the Speaker of the Commons. Oaths. Queen's Speech, and Addresses in answer. Places of Peers and Members of the House of Commons. Attendance on the service of Parliament. Office of Speaker in both Houses. Principal Officers. Journals. Admission of Strangers. Prorogation. • Chapter VIII: Motions and Questions. Notices of Motions. Questions moved and seconded. Motions withdrawn. Questions superseded by Adjournment; or by reading the Orders of the Day. Previous Questions. New Questions substituted by Amendment. Complicated Questions. Questions put. • Chapter IX: Amendments to Questions; and Amendments to proposed Amendments. • Chapter X: The same Question or Bill may not be twice offered in a Session. • Chapter XI: Rules of Debate: Manner and time of speaking: Rules and orders to be observed by Members in speaking, and in attending to Debates. • Chapter XII: Divisions. Mode of dividing in both Houses. Proxies and Pairs. Protests. Members personally interested. • Chapter XIII: Committees of the whole House: General rules of proceeding: Chairman: Motions and Debate: House resumed. • Chapter XIV: Appointment, Constitution, Powers and Proceedings of Select Committees in both Houses. • Chapter XV: Witnesses: Modes of Summons and Examination: Administration of Oaths: Expenses. • Chapter XVI: Communications between the Lords and Commons: Messages and Conferences: Joint Committees, and Committees communicating with each other. • Chapter XVII: Communications from the Crown to Parliament: Their forms and character: How acknowledged: Addresses to the Crown: Messages to Members of the Royal Family; and communications from them. • Chapter XVIII: Proceedings of Parliament in passing Public Bills; Their several stages in both Houses. Royal Assent. • Chapter XIX: Ancient mode of petitioning Parliament: Form and character of modern Petitions: Practice of both Houses in receiving them. • Chapter XX: Accounts, Papers and Records presented to Parliament: Printing and distribution of them: Arrangement and statistical value of Parliamentary Returns. • Chapter XXI: Progressive influence of the Commons in granting Supplies, and imposing Burthens upon the People. Exclusion of the Lords from the right of amending Money Bills. Constitutional functions of the Crown and of the Commons, in matters of Supply. Modern rules and practice in voting Money and imposing Pecuniary Burthens. Committees of Supply and Ways and Means. • Chapter XXII: Issue of Writs, and Trial of Controverted Elections by the House of Commons. • Chapter XXIII: Impeachment by the Commons; grounds of accusation; form of charge; articles of impeachment; the trial and judgment: proceedings not concluded by prorogation or dissolution; pardon not pleadable. Trial of Peers. Bills of Attainder and of Pains and Penalties. • Book III: The Manner of passing Private Bills. • Chapter XXIV: Distinctive character of Private Bills: preliminary view of the proceedings of Parliament in passing them. • Chapter XXV: Conditions to be observed by parties before Private Bills are introduced into Parliament: Notices and deposit of plans, &c.: Estimates and subscription contracts. • Chapter XXVI: Course of proceedings upon Private Bills introduced into the House of Commons; with the rules, orders, and practice applicable to each stage of such Bills in succession, and to particular classes of Bills. • Chapter XXVII: Course of Proceedings in the Lords upon Private Bills sent up from the Commons. • Chapter XXVIII: Rules, orders, and course of proceedings in the Lords upon Private Bills brought into that House upon Petition; and proceedings of the Commons upon Private Bills brought from the Lords. Local and Personal, and Private Acts of Parliament. • Chapter XXIX: Fees payable by the parties promoting or opposing Private Bills. Costs of Parliamentary Agents and others. ==See also==