Speaker of the House of Commons

E9385

The Speaker of the House of Commons is the politically neutral chief officer and highest authority of the UK’s lower parliamentary chamber, responsible for maintaining order, overseeing debates, and representing the Commons.

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Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf parliamentary office
presiding officer
public office in the United Kingdom
appliesToJurisdiction House of Commons of the United Kingdom
appointedBy House of Commons of the United Kingdom
surface form: House of Commons
chamber House of Commons of the United Kingdom
surface form: House of Commons
country United Kingdom
historicalOrigin developed from the medieval spokesman of the Commons to the Crown
legalBasis governed by Standing Orders of the House of Commons
partOf British Parliament
surface form: Parliament of the United Kingdom
politicalAlignment politically neutral
positionInGovernment highest authority of the House of Commons
rank one of the highest officers of the state in the United Kingdom
requires re-election as Speaker at the start of a new Parliament
residence Palace of Westminster
surface form: Speaker’s House, Palace of Westminster
responsibility announcing the results of divisions
calling MPs to speak during debates
certifying money bills under the Parliament Acts
chairing the House of Commons Commission
deciding on the selection of amendments for debate
deciding who may speak in the chamber
enforcing the rules of the House of Commons
ensuring fair treatment of all parties in the chamber
escorting the monarch to the House of Lords at the State Opening of Parliament
granting or refusing emergency debates under Standing Order No. 24
granting or refusing urgent questions
interpreting the Standing Orders of the House of Commons
issuing Speaker’s certificates under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (while in force)
issuing Speaker’s certificates under the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949
issuing writs for parliamentary by-elections
maintaining discipline among Members of Parliament
maintaining order in the House of Commons
ordering MPs to withdraw for disorderly conduct
overseeing debates in the House of Commons
overseeing the administration of the House of Commons
presiding over votes in the House of Commons
protecting the rights and privileges of the House of Commons
protecting the rights of backbench MPs
representing the Commons in ceremonial occasions
representing the House of Commons to external bodies
representing the House of Commons to the House of Lords
representing the House of Commons to the monarch
suspending sittings in cases of grave disorder
seat Speaker’s Chair in the House of Commons chamber
selectionMethod elected by Members of Parliament
symbol Speaker’s Chair
mace in the House of Commons
termLength serves until resignation, death, or removal by the House
tradition Speaker stands in general elections as “Speaker seeking re-election” without party label
major political parties usually do not contest the Speaker’s constituency

Referenced by (29)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons assists Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker’s Chair in the House of Commons chamber controlledBy Speaker of the House of Commons
Lord Speaker differsFrom Speaker of the House of Commons
Commons elects Speaker of the House of Commons
House of Commons of the United Kingdom elects Speaker of the House of Commons
Standing Orders of the House of Commons governsBody Speaker of the House of Commons
House of Commons of the United Kingdom hasOfficer Speaker of the House of Commons
Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom hasPart Speaker of the House of Commons
House of Commons of the United Kingdom hasPresidingOfficer Speaker of the House of Commons
Commons hasSpeaker Speaker of the House of Commons
House of Commons of Great Britain hasSpeaker Speaker of the House of Commons
this entity surface form: Speaker of the House of Commons of Great Britain
Speaker of the House of Keys isAnalogousTo Speaker of the House of Commons
this entity surface form: Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)
Leader of the House of Commons isDifferentFrom Speaker of the House of Commons
Father of the House of Commons isNot Speaker of the House of Commons
Chairman of Ways and Means isSubordinateTo Speaker of the House of Commons
Prime Minister’s Questions participantRole Speaker of the House of Commons
Douglas Clifton Brown positionHeld Speaker of the House of Commons
this entity surface form: Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Edward FitzRoy positionHeld Speaker of the House of Commons
this entity surface form: Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Sir John Trevor positionHeld Speaker of the House of Commons
this entity surface form: Speaker of the House of Commons of England
Sir Thomas Littleton positionHeld Speaker of the House of Commons
this entity surface form: Speaker of the House of Commons of England
House of Commons of Canada presidingOfficerTitle Speaker of the House of Commons
Official Opposition (United Kingdom) recognizedBy Speaker of the House of Commons
Boundary Commission for England reportsTo Speaker of the House of Commons
Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland reportsTo Speaker of the House of Commons
Boundary Commission for Wales reportsTo Speaker of the House of Commons
Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons reportsTo Speaker of the House of Commons
Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons subordinateTo Speaker of the House of Commons
House of Commons chamber usedBy Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker’s Chair in the House of Commons chamber usedBy Speaker of the House of Commons