Introduction (House of Lords)

The introduction is a ceremony in the British House of Lords, will be introduced with the new members in their office. Introductions to the House of Lords are usually solemn designed as introductions to the House of Commons.

Procedure

The tutorial takes about five minutes at the beginning of a session. There is usually no more than two electrical connections per day, exceptionally three, if there are a large number of appointments. Each member has two supporters, usually ( but not necessarily) of his own party or group.

An oath of allegiance ( The Oath of Allegiance ) must be made by all members or an affidavit ( Solemn Affirmation ) must be issued before they can sit in the upper house and choose. Members take the oath in the introduction, at the beginning of each new Parliament and the death of a monarch. If they take the oath, the members also sign that they will obey house rules ( House of Lords Code of Conduct ), if they fulfill their Parliamentary duties.

The first speech holding a newly thereto member who is the maiden speech ( Maiden Speech). This takes place during a parliamentary debate and is traditionally received with respect the House of Lords, ie without interruptions and with congratulations by the following speaker. The speech itself is short and uncontroversial and does not express views that could cause an interruption.

Origin

Originally, the sovereign peers appointed himself and led them personally in their office. The personal introduction was abolished in the 17th century, 1621, the ceremony of the introduction in the House of Lords was first practiced. Over time, the ceremony was designed complex. 1998 were carried out on the initiative of the Select Committee several reforms.

Rules for the implementation

Ceremonial introductions were originally intended for all new members of the House of Lords. In 1663 it was decided that the peers who inherited a title, not be introduced. This also affects Hereditary peers passing through by-elections, according to the House of Lords Act 1999 to her office. If a Hereditary peer is the peer for life, an introduction is made, unless the person has held office before the House of Lords Act 1999.

The spiritual Lords ( twenty-six bishops of the Church of England, members of the House of Lords are ) are also, albeit at a special ceremony, introduced after their appointment. A new induction ceremony takes place when a spiritual Lord accepts bishopric to another.

Ceremony for secular Lords

The Einführungszermonie that was applied before 1998, was much more complex than the present ceremony. In the original ceremony, the Lord Chancellor took in a robe or a deputy in a Parlamentsrobe on the Woolsack place. It formed outside the chamber a procession in the following order:

The supporters are members of the House of Lords in the same rank as the new peer. Accordingly, a Duke a Duke, a Marquess Marquess supports, etc. The new peer and his supporters wear Parliament robes and special hats. The Prozesseion moves in the direction of the Lord Chancellor, where the Garter Principal King of Arms, the authorization document by which the Sovereign appoints the new peer vorzeigt. The new peer kneels down before the Lord Chancellor, and has before his summons by which the sovereign arranges the appearance of new Peers in Parliament. The Reader reads the House of Lords then the summons and the authorization certificate. The new peer makes its allegiance or an affidavit and signed the Protocol, on the same oath is written down.

Following the new peer and his supporters leads the Garter Principal King of Arms to the benches of his rank. The new peer and the supporters put their hats on, they rise, take them off again, bow to the Lord Chancellor. This process is repeated twice. After the third bow before the Lord Chancellor, the new peer, the supporters, the Garter Principal King of Arms and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod left the chamber, the new peer shakes the hand of the Lord Chancellor.

In 1998, the House of Lords Committee for the modernization of a ceremony. The committee was " far from a Würdehaftigkeit the practice of kneeling before the Lord Chancellor is especially embarrassing because of the new peer, wearing a robe, just kneeling on the floor without being able to support themselves. [ We ] see no need to further maintain the act of kneeling before the Lord Chancellor. "The Committee also recommended that the reading of the subpoena, this happens for all peers in the same form, should be adjusted during the reading of the letter of appointment, the is unique for each peer, should be continued: Further, the committee recommended that the wearing of hats and the removal of hats, " serves no symbolic purpose " should also be terminated. The seating arrangement of the Lords in the number of their ranks seie according to the Committee also an outdated practice, the Lords should be placed instead under their fractions, the placement of new peers should be set.

In the current ceremony, the procession was changed, rather than going to the Woolsack, holds it before the Table of the House. The Reader reads the letter of appointment, which is pre- shows him from Garte Prinicipal King of Arms, and takes the new peer allegiance or the affidavit. The new peer and his supporters bow to the Cloth of Estate, which is placed behind the throne of the Queen and the Woolsack. The procession leaves the chamber, the new peer will stop in front of the Woolsack and shakes the hand of the Lord Chancellor. After returning to the chamber of the new peer takes any seat in the ranks of his group or, if the new peer is neutral, in the ranks of the Cross Bencher one.

The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 by the Presidency through the House of Lords from the agendas of the Lord Chancellor has been deleted. This function is exercised by the Lord Speaker since 2006.

Ceremony for spiritual Lords

The ceremony for spiritual Lords has always been easier than for secular Lords and was not expensive item in the activity of the Reform Committee in 1998. The gentleman usher of the Black Rod and the Garter Principal King of Arms is not taking part. The supporters of spiritual lords are in all cases other spiritual lords, the new member and his supporters wear clerical clothing. The procession, with the Junior Supperter at the top and the senior supporter behind the new archbishop or bishop advances towards the Table of the House. The new member shall present his summons, which is read by a reader. Archbishops and bishops have no certificate of appointment. The Reader picks up the oath of allegiance, then below the procession to the Woolsack ago where the new member shakes the hand of the Lord Speaker. Instead of leaving the chamber take the new member and his supporters immediately on the banks of the Bishops Square.