THE WORK OF PARLIAMENT 147

on some Wednesdays Private Members may introduce Reso-
lutions; the latter are no part of the process of making law,
but allow' ideas to be discussed and the opinion of the House
tested. After Christmas, however, the Government begins to
use some Wednesdays for its own business, and after Easter
no time is left for Resolutions or new Bills from Private
Members, though the Bills already under discussion continue
on their way. It will be seen that the time allowed for Private
Members is slight and their difficulties will appear even more
dearly when the process of turning a Bill into an Act has been
examined.

DEBATES AND VOTES.

Members must address their speeches, not to one another,
but to "Mr. Speaker". They must not refer, to other Members
by name, but as the "Honourable Member fqr Richmond", or
whatever his constituency may be. These formalities, as anyone
who has belonged to a large debating society will know, help
to prevent the discussion becoming too heated and degenerating
into a wrangle. Speeches must not be read—though a Member
may use notes or quote from documents—and must be confined
to the subject under discussion. Offensive expressions are
forbidden and the natural rules of civilised debate must be
observed. A Member who transgresses the regulations will be
greeted with cries of "Order, Order!" from his fellows, and called
to Order by the Speaker, Should a Member attempt to defy
the Speaker, the latter will "name" thejrffender and the Prime
Minister will move that he be suspended from the service- of the
House. If the House agrees, the'Member will have to leave;
in, the last resort the officers of the House will be called on to
remove him. Suspension lasts for a few days and is ended by
an apology. In the years following 1877, when Parnell led the
Irish Party, ^deliberate obstruction was common and forcible
removal of Members occurred. The Standing Orders which
govern the procedure of the House have since been altered;