Parley
PETER. See GOODRICH, S. G.
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 PARLIAMENT France about the middle of the 12th century.
The British Parliament. -The legislature of Great Britain and Ireland consists 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 octarchy, seems to have had its wittenagemote, 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 destroy any ministry, it can alter, and has in fact altered, the succession to the throne. At the Reformation it transferred property enjoyed by the Church of Rome and altered the National religion, endowing Protestantism with money given for Roman Catholic purposes. Parliament is called together by the sovereign, who appoints the time and place of meeting, and opens the proceedings by the delivery of a speech, either personally or by deputy. Each house can adjourn, but neither can be prorogued 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 different places. In 1190 Philip Augustus instituted 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 It was suppressed in 1771, revived in 1774, demanded a meeting of the States-General in 1787, and was superseded by the National Assembly Nov. 3, 1789. A French parliament still exists, but not the name.
States Ge, 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 independent country. It has been traced back to a council held at Scone under the auspices of John Balliol, in 1282.
There was but a single house, consisting of lords temporal and spiritual, occa- PARLOW 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.
PARLIAMENTARY LAW. The rules which govern deliberative assemblies. Their object is to place restrictions upon individual members so as to insure that the sense of the meeting be ascertained without needless waste of time. The officers necessary for an assembly to transact business under parliamentary law are a presiding officer called a president or speaker, and a secretary. It is the duty of such a presiding officer to call the meeting to order, to state clearly the motions made and see that due order of precedence is given to the various members. The secretary or clerk keeps the minutes of the meeting, lists of committees appointed, and copies of resolutions passed.
A resolution or motion is made by a member, and according to most authorities must be seconded before the matter is considered to be opened for discussion.
The member proposing the motion has the right to speak first upon it. In case the debate is being needlessly prolonged by the opposition a motion can be made from the floor to lay the question upon the table, which postpones action upon the original motion, or the previous question can be moved which demands that the chairman put the original motion to a vote at once. In case a decision by the chair is questioned an appeal can be taken to the entire body and the ruling revised, but a two-third's vote is necessary for this. In considering what motions to bring before the assembly the speaker can use his judgment except in matters known as privileged questions. Privileged questions include motions relating to rights and privileges of members, or to adjourn, or to fix a time for adjournment; the last-named motion taking precedence of all.
An amendment can be offered to all motions except privileged questions and if they do not strike out anything in the original motion must be declared in order even if they change the entire sense of the resolution.