The Table
The Table is the Journal of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments and
contains summaries of activities from Parliaments throughout the Commonwealth as well as articles of
interest on a wide variety of issues related to Parliamentary process.
The Table welcomes and encourages submissions from all Society members. Articles should be provided to the editor, Nicolas Besly, at beslyn@parliament.uk. Submissions should be received by 30 April each year in order to ensure that they can be included in the next edition. The editor also looks forward to any comments and suggestions as to the content and format of The Table in order to best address the needs of its readers and Society members.
Annual Questionnaire
The annual questionnaire for The Table has been circulated in hard copy to all Society members. An electronic copy can be obtained by clicking here: TABLE QUESTIONNAIRE. Please send your replies to the editor Nicolas Besly, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW (email beslyn@parliament.uk, fax +44 20 7219 3887), by 30 November 2012 (if this timetable causes difficulty please contact the editor).
Volumes 71 (2003) to present of The Table are available below to download as PDF files. Previous volumes are only available in paper format. For information purposes, a list of the Tables of Contents for Volumes 67 to 77 is provided below.
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Coalition Government in the House of Lords – Some Procedural Challenges
[Tom Mohan]
- House of Commons Backbench Business Committee
[Andrew Kennon]
- Falling Short: How a Decision of the Northwest Territories Court of Appeal Allowed a Claim to Privilege to Trump Statute Law
[Charles Robert]
- South Africa’s Parliament and Executive Oversight: An Acid Test for the Powers of Oversight Committees
[Kamal Mansura and Francois Basson]
- Allegation of Contempt in Respect of a Joint Committee
[Christopher Johnson]
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Comparative Study: Timetabling Bills and Closure Motions
- Privilege
- Standing Orders
- Sitting Days
- Unparliamentary Expressions
- Books on Parliament
- Index
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Conduct of Members: Recent Developments in the House of Lords
[CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON]
- Control of Delegated Legislation in the Australian Senate
[RICHARD PYE]
- Parliamentary Privilege in the Canadian Context: An Alternative Perspective Part I: The Constitution Act, 1867
[CHARLES ROBERT]
- The Changing Face of Parliamentary Opposition: Independents, Parties and Houses: An Overview of Recent Northern Territory Events
[ROBYN SMITH]
- The Law Lords Depart: Constitutional Change at Westminster
[BRENDAN KEITH]
- Integrity and Accountability Review in Queensland
[NEIL LAURIE]
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Comparative Study: The Role of the Clerk or Secretary General
- Privilege
- Standing Orders
- Sitting Times
- Unparliamentary Expressions
- Books on Parliament in 2009
- Index
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- The Election of a Speaker in the United Kingdom House of Commons
[CHRIS STANTON ]
- Annotated Standing Orders of the Australian Senate
[DR ROSEMARY LAING]
- Election of a New President of the Republic of South Africa
[M K MANSURA and FRANCOIS BASSON]
- Results-based Management in the Parliamentary Environment
[PAUL C. BÉLISLE and JILL ANNE JOSEPH]
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Comparative Study:Topicality
- Privilege
- Standing Orders
- Sitting Times
- Unparliamentary Expressions
- Books and Videos on Parliament in 2008
- Index
Top of Page
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- The House of Lords Select Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments [PAUL BRISTOW]
- Parliamentary Privilege and Extra Territorial Publication:the Irish Perspective [MELLISSA ENGLISH]
- Consideration of Legislation by Australian Senate Committees and the Selection of Bills Committee [RICHARD PYE]
- Devolution in Wales—‘A Process Not an Event’ [SIÂN WILKINS ]
- Dilatory Amendments in the House of Lords[CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON]
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Comparative Study:Recruitment and Training of Clerks
- Privilege
- Standing Orders
- Sitting Times
- Unparliamentary Expressions
- Books and Videos on Parliament
- Index
Top of Page
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Parliamentary Control of Finance: Bringing Back the Revolution [Harry Evans]
- Shield or Sword? Parliamentary Privilege, Charter Rights and the Rule of Law [Charles Robert and Vince Macneil]
- Multiple Choice Voting [Andrew Makower, Paul Bristow and Nicolas Besly]
- When is Ministerial Briefing Material Protected by Parliamentary Privilege and what are the Implications?[Neil Laurie]
- The Australian Parliamentary Studies Centre: Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions Project[Ian Harris]
- Westminster, Past and Present
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Comparative Study: Developments in Support Services
- Privilege
- Standing Orders
- Sitting Times
- Unparliamentary Expressions
- Books and Videos on Parliament
- Index
Top of Page
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- An Opportunity Missed: The Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege, Graham-Campbell and Internal Affairs [Charles Robert]
- A New Joint Department at Westminster [Richard Ware]
- A Communications Plan for the National Assembly of Québec [Patrik Gilbert]
- Parliamentary Committees and Neglected Voices in Society [Kathleen Dermody, Ian Holland, Elton Humphery]
- The Declaration of the 2005 World Conference of Speakers [Gary O’Brien]
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Comparative Study: Induction of New Members
- Privilege
- Standing Orders
- Sitting Times
- Unparliamentary Expressions
- Books and Videos on Parliament
- Index
Top of Page
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Estimates Hearings: the Grand Inquisition [Harry Evans]
- A Procedural Throwback: the Select Committee on the Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] [Rhodri Walters]
- “Bleeding the Brakes” — A Response to Legislation Affecting the New Zealand Appropriation Process [Mary Hay]
- The Election of the Speaker in Sri Lanka [Priyanee Wijesekera]
- The Hunting Act 2004 and the Parliament Acts [Tom Mohan]
- Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation in the House of Lords [Christine Salmon]
- Natural Justice Issues for Parliamentary Committees [Robyn McClelland]
- Preparation for Life at The Table: Perspectives from Australia and New Zealand [Liz Choat and David Bagnall]
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Annual Comparative Study: Delegated Legislation
- Privilege Cases
- Amendments to Standing Orders
- Sitting Times
- Unparliamentary Expressions in 2004
- Books and Videos on Parliament
- Index
Top of Page
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Questions Without Answers: Joint Meetings of the Australian Senate and House of Representatives [Dr. Rosemary Laing]
- Supply Motions and Bills in the House of Commons: the Impact of Resource Accounting and Budgeting [Colin Lee]
- E-democracy and the Work of Parliamentary Committees [Marc Bosc]
- A Period of Reform for Victoria’s Legislative Council [Dr. Stephen Redenbach]
- The Juridical Protection Plan for Members of the National Assembly of Québec [René Chrétien]
- Scrutinising Waste — An Innovative Committee Procedure [Siwan Davies]
- Seizure of a Member’s Documents Under Search Warrant [John Denton Evans]
- Voting in Error in the States of Jersey [Michael N. de la Haye]
- Ruling on a Motion of Urgent Public Importance [Floyd W. McCormick, PH.D]
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Annual Comparative Study: Private Members’ Legislation
- Privilege Cases
- Amendments to Standing Orders
- Sitting Times
- Unparliamentary Expressions in 2003
- Books and Videos on Parliament 2003
- Index
Top of Page
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Executive Accountability in the “Children Overboard” Affair [Dr. Sarah Bachelard]
- House of Lords: New Ways of Working [Sir Michael Davies, KCB]
- A v. the UK in the European Court of Human Rights (2002) [Malcolm Jack]
- Unusual Proceedings Occasioned by a Loss of Majority in the Yukon Legislative Assembly [Floyd W. McCormick, PH.D]
- Montserrat’s Response to the Volcano [Claudette Weekes]
- Maintaining Institutional Memory in the Northern Ireland Assembly — How Much is Experience Worth? [Joe Reynolds]
- Sitting of Parliament in a Regional Area [Ian Thompson and Annette Henery]
- Some Reflections on Harnessing New Technologies in the Service of Parliamentary Democracy [François Côté and Charles A. Bogue]
- Crossing of the Floor Legislation: The Judgment of the South African Constitutional Court in United Democratic Movement v. President of the Republic South Africa and Others [Jodi-Anne Borien]
- Changing Times [George Cubie]
- Hereditary Peers’ By-election [Anna Murphy]
- The Failed Attempts at Electing a Speaker in Trinidad and Tobago [Jacqui Sampson Jacent]
- Miscellaneous Notes
- Annual Comparative Study: The Timing of Business and Carry-over
- Privilege Cases
- Amendments to Standing Orders
- Sitting Times
- Unparliamentary Expressions in 2002
- Books and Videos on Parliament
- Index
Top of Page
The Table, Volume 70, 2002:
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Appointments, retirements and obituaries
- Assessing the Impact of Committee Staffing Arrangements — Department of the House of Representatives, Australia [Robyn McClelland, Clerk Assistant (Table)]
- Scrutinising Government Contracts: A Continuing Order for Documents [Harry Evans, Clerk of the Australian Senate]
- The Impartiality of Deputy Speakers [François Côté and Suzanne Langevin, National Assembly of Quebec]
- Question-Time in Congress (or why President Truman called Senator Fulbright “an over-educated Oxford son of a b… h”) [William McKay, Clerk of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)]
- Private Business in the House of Commons: Managing the Challenges of Decline [Frank Cranmer (House of Commons, United Kingdom)]
- Annual Comparative Study
- What recent steps has your assembly taken to develop the use of committees in both oversight
of government and in the consideration of legislation? Have your committees been strengthened
recently, and if so, how? What resources (staff and financial) are provided for them? Who
participates in their work? And what future developments are under consideration?
- Privilege Cases
- Standing Orders
- Other Notes
- Unparliamentary Language
- Sitting Days
- Books and Videos on Parliament and Related Topics
- Rules of the Society
- List of Members
- Members’ Records of Service
- Index 1998-2002
Top of Page
The Table, Volume 69, 2001:
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Appointments, retirements and obituaries
- The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body: A Postcript [Frank Cranmer (House of Commons)]
- Bringing Records Management to Westminster: A Survey of the Records of Parliament [David Prior, Assistant Clerk of the Records (House of Lords)]
- Copyright Issues Relating to Yirrkala “Bark” Petitions [Joanne Towner, Director, Legislation and Records (House of Representatives, Australia)]
- Remedies Against the Executive for Non-Compliance with Orders for the Production of Documents — Recent Developments in the Australian Senate [Dr. Rosemary Laing, Clerk Assistant (Procedure) (Australian Senate)]
- Parliamentary Committees Having “Executive Functions” [Neil Laurie, Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees (Queensland Parliament)]
- Parliamentary Privilege and Modern Communications [Neil Laurie, Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees (Queensland Parliament)]
- Catching the Devil: The Senate’s New Rule on Disclosure of Private Financial Interests [Gary O’Brien, Deputy Clerk (Senate of Canada)]
- Annual Comparative Study
- Conduct of Members: The tradition in parliaments has been that Members have been expected to
act honourably and not in their own interest. To what extent have the rules in your assembly or
parliament changed to ensure that this remains the case?
- Privilege Cases
- Standing Orders
- Other Notes
- Unparliamentary Language
- Sitting Days
- Books and videos on Parliament and Related Topics
- Rules of the Society
- List of Members
- Index 1997-2001
Top of Page
The Table, Volume 68, 2000:
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Appointments, retirements and obituaries
- The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body: The first ten years [Frank Cranmer (House of Commons) and John Roycroft (Oireachtas Eireann)]
- Allegations of partiality against the Speaker of New Zealand House of Representatives [David Wilson]
- Australia: The Republic Referendum [Harry Evans, Clerk of the Australian Senate (Australia)]
- Hereditary Peers Elections [Michael Davies, Clerk of the Parliaments, (House of Lords, United Kingdom)]
- Parliamentary Service Act of the Commonwealth of Australia [Ian Harris, Clerk of the House of Representatives (Australia)]
- Procedure Committee reports on community involvement in procedures and practices of the House and its Committees [Robyn Webber, Secretary, Standing Committee on Procedure (House of Representatives, Australia)]
- A case of contempt — What might have been [L. B. Marquet, Clerk of the Legislative Council (Western Australia)]
- New South Wales Drug Summit 1999 [Russell D. Grove, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly (New South Wales)]
- Annual Comparative Study
- Information for the public: What arrangements does your legislature make to inform
the public about its role and its current work? Do you have an education unit and/or a press and
media office? Please describe the role and staffing of these services, and any plans for their
future development
- Privilege Cases
- Standing Orders
- Other notes
- Unparliamentary Language
- Sitting Days
- Books and Vdeos on Parliament and Related Topics
- Book Review
- Rules of the Society
- List of Members
- Records of Service
- Index 1996-2000
Top of Page
The Table, Volume 67, 1999:
Contents of Issue
- Editorial
- Appointments, retirements and obituaries
- The Immigration and Asylum Bill: Revival of the Special Standing Committee Procedure [Nick Walter (House of Commons, United Kingdom)]
- Public Information, Accountability and Open Government: A snapshot of the Australian Senate 1973-1998 [Rosemary Laing (Australian Senate)]
- Some difficulties in interpreting the Standing Orders: A view from the National Assembly of Quebec [Pierre Duchesne and Charles Bogue (Quebec)]
- The first question of privilege [David Wilson (House of Representatives, New Zealand)]
- More Modernisation? Recommendations of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege of the UK Parliament 1997-99 [A. J. Hastings (House of Commons, United Kingdom)]
- Procedural Housekeeping [Andrew Makower (House of Lords, United Kingdom)]
- House of Lords Reform: Hereditary Peers [Michael Davies (House of Lords, United Kingdom)]
- Annual Comparative Study:
- What formal role do the parliamentary parties play in the operation of the Parliament,
including in particular:
- the management of business and preparation of the agenda, such as through a Business
Committee;
- allocation of time to speak;
- voting arrangements
- Privilege Cases
- Standing Orders
- Other Notes
- Unparliamentary Language
- Sitting Days
- Books and Videos on Parliament and Related Topics
- Rules of the Society
- List of Members
- Records of Service
- Index 1995-99
Top of Page
Last Updated: 10-01-2012
