House of Common

1. Introduction:
"The Sovereignty of Parliament resides in the House of Commons." (R.G. Neumann)
"House of Commons is the center of the English Political system......The sun around which all other
bodies revolve". (Gladstone)
2. Composition of House of Commons:
I. Strength:
The present strength of House of Commons is 650.
II. Term of House:
The members of the House of Commons are elected for a term or five years, unless the House is
dissolved earlier by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister
3. Qualification and Election of House of Commons:

I. Qualification of Candidates of House of Commons

Following are the qualification for a candidate to contest election for House of Commons.
i. He or she, as the cases may be, must be British subject.
ii. Must attain the age of 21 years.
iii. Not otherwise disqualified such as
a) holder of judicial officers
b) bankrupts
c) civil servant
d) members of the armed forces and police force
e) the directors of the national commercial companies; and
f) Clergymen.

II. Election:
Parliamentary elections are of two kinds.
1) General elections held when a new House common is to be elected and these must be hen within
20 days of the dissolution of a sitting parliament.
2) By-elections held when a vacancy occurs in House due 10 the death at resignation of sitting member
or when a member made member of the House of Lords.

A. Adult Franchise:
According to the representation of the People Act 1949 as amended by the 1969 Act, following are
qualification of a person entitled to vote
a. Must be a British subject
b. 18 years of age or above
c. Whose name is recorded in the voter's register of his constituency.
 4. Presiding Officer of House of Commons:
The meetings of the House of Commons are presided over by speaker He is elected by the House when new
parliament meets first time.
5. Powers and Functions of the House of Commons:

a) Legislative Powers:
The house of Commons enjoys vast powers in the field of law-making. 11 can modify the existing law and
can make or repeal any law whatsoever. It defines the national policy and has the right to change the
constitution.
b) Financial Powers:
The House of Commons wields great authority over the nation's purse. According to opinion of Prof.
Madison who holds the purse, holds the power. According to the Act Of 1911 all money bills must originate
in the House of Commons and the Power of House of Lords is limited in this respect.
c) Administrative Powers:
The House of common also attains the Powers of Administration because this House controls the
administration by way of questioning the cabinet members.
d) Delegated Legislation:
Parliament being Supreme, may delegate powers to whomever it wills md it may similarly withdraw the
powers that it has delegated- It may delegate its powers to Government Department to Supplement, amplify
and apply statutes passed by the Parliament.
6. Privileges of the House of Commons:
Following are the privileges of the House of Commons
III. Freedom of Speech:
The House enjoys freedom in the House in the matte of debates.
IV. Right to Regulate:
House has the right to regulate its own Constitution including the right to exclude or expel members.
V. Exclusion of strangers:
The House also has the right to exclude strangers from the House.
VI. Right to Prohibit Publication:
House has the right to prohibit publication of its own debates.
VII. Freedom from Arrest:
Freedom from arrest in Civil Cases for a period of 40 days before and after the Sessions of Parliament but
this privilege not extend in Criminal Cases.
VIII. Right to Enforce Privileges:
House has the right to enforce its privileges and commit for contempt for breach of its Privileges.
Conclusion:
To conclude, I can say, that the House of Commons, is the most vital part of the British Parliament. Since
1911the House had assumed final powers of law making which are firmly shared with the House of Lords.
In reality Parliament means House of Common when a minister consults Parliament, he consults the House
of Common, when the Queen dissolves Parliament. She dissolves the House of Commons when a
Parliament has made a law, it means that the House of Commons has legislated upon it.