Glossary

After the throne speech has been delivered, the throne speech debate follows. The throne speech debate opens with a speech from a government backbencher that ends with a motion that the House reply to the Lieutenant Governor by thanking the Lieutenant Governor for the Speech from the Throne. Another government backbencher then speaks and seconds the motion, and the throne speech debate continues, technically, as a debate on the motion. The first person to speak after the motion has been seconded is traditionally the Leader of the Opposition.

A proposal to alter the text of a bill or other measure by inserting new text, by deleting text, or both. Amendments must be introduced by motion and must be approved by the House of Assembly before the proposed change takes effect.

A Member of the Legislative Assembly who is not the Speaker, a leader of a party, a house leader, a minister, or a member of the opposition with a critic role. The term derives from the British Parliamentary tradition where the ministers and the party spokespeople sit on the front benches and all the other Members of Parliament sit on the back benches.

An electronic bell is used to summon members at the beginning of a sitting, for the taking of a vote, or to establish a quorum in the House of Assembly. When used for a roll call vote, it is a called a division bell and it cannot ring for longer than one hour.

The government’s statement of its fiscal, economic and social policies. It must be presented at least once a year under the Finance Act.

An election held to fill a vacancy in the membership of the House of Assembly. By-elections are irregular and infrequent. Normally,  membership in the House of Assembly is determined during a general election. An official by-election notice (a writ) must be issued within six months of a vacancy and an election held within 46 days of the notice.

A group of elected Members of the Legislative Assembly belonging to the same political party. A caucus is also a closed meeting of the members from the same political party to decide upon questions of policy and the selection of candidates for office.

A table positioned between the government and opposition seats and in front of the Speaker’s chair where the Chief Clerk of the House, the Assistant Clerks and, when the House in committee, the Chairman of the Committee sit in the legislative chamber. It serves as the business centre of the parliamentary process. The Mace must be present on top of the Clerk’s Table for the House to meet, except in Committee of the Whole House.

The ordinary daily business of the House of Assembly occurring at the start of each sitting day. It may include Presenting and Reading of Petitions, Presenting Reports of Committees, Tabling Reports, Regulations, and other Papers, Statements by Ministers, Government Notices of Motion, Introduction of Bills, and Notices of Motion. The Daily Routine is followed by Orders of the Day.

A debate held with the purpose of discussing a specific matter of urgent public importance. A member may, immediately after the daily routine, move that the House set aside its regular business to attend to a matter of genuine emergency calling for immediate and urgent consideration. Members can speak for a maximum of fifteen minutes each for up to two hours.

Seating areas in the House overlooking the legislative chamber. They are set aside for the public, the press, and distinguished visitors who wish to attend a sitting.

Officially, the government of the province consists of the Lieutenant Governor acting in the name of the Crown with the advice and consent of the Executive Council. To remain in office, the government must have the support of a majority of members in the House of Assembly. Informally, the term government is often used to refer to all members of the governing party.

The Government House Leader is a cabinet minister who is chosen by the Premier to plan and manage the conduct of government business in the House of Assembly. The Government House Leader advises Members of the Legislative Assembly of the order of business, hours of meeting, and time of adjournment for the next sitting day.

The order of business that provides opportunity for the House of Assembly to debate and support government initiatives.

The verbatim transcript of what is said in the House of Assembly and in committees. The word Hansard comes from the name of the British family originally responsible for publishing the proceedings of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. The official title of Hansard is Debates and Proceedings.

The elected body of 51 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). In Nova Scotia, the legislative assembly is officially called the House of Assembly. The members of the House of Assembly are elected in a provincial general election or by-elections. The House can sit for a maximum of five years from the expiration of a general election writ.

A member of the House of Assembly who does not belong to a recognized political party. The person may be elected as an independent or may leave or be expelled from a party during the course of a general assembly and sit as an independent.

The leader of a party represented by two or more members in the House of Assembly.

Any law, or generally the collection of all laws, enacted by or on the authority of the Legislature.

Officers of the House who advise the House of Assembly on legal matters. They advise the Speaker on parliamentary procedure and draft bills for government and opposition. They also provide legal and procedural advice to members and committees.

The Legislature consists of the Lieutenant Governor, acting in the name of the Crown, and the House of Assembly. The Legislature makes the laws of the province.

The first speech made in the House by a new member.

A proposal made by a member in the House of Assembly requesting an action, order, or opinion on a matter by the House. A motion initiates all business undertaken by the House.

On certain days of the week, members may make a motion under rule 5(5). This rule allows members to debate either a non-government motion listed on the Order Paper or a matter arising out of Question Period.  Quorum is not required and no votes are called.

The order of business in the Daily Routine whereby members announce their intention to present a motion on a future date.

An oath sworn by cabinet ministers to diligently and faithfully carry out the duties entrusted to them.

The party having the second largest number of seats in the House of Assembly.

Members of the Legislative Assembly who do not belong to the governing party. Their role is to question government actions, present alternatives to government positions, and provide the option of an alternative government.

The Opposition House Leader informs members of the House of Opposition Members’ Business which is on the Order Paper each Wednesday. The hours of meeting and adjournment time are set with the agreement of the Government House Leader.

The items of business on the Order Paper which follow the Daily Routine. The Orders of the Day vary by day of the week. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the order of business is Oral Questions, Government Business, Private and Local Bills, and Private Members’ Public Bills and on Wednesdays, Oral Questions, Private and Local Bills for Second Reading, Opposition Members' Business, Government Business, Private Member’s Public Bills, and Motions Under Rule 5(5).

An historic means for the public to have direct access to the House of Assembly. A petition is a request, opinion, or position from an individual or a group that is put forward to the House for some action by the Government or the House. A petition may only be presented to the House by a member.

Points of privilege may be raised when members feel that they are being interfered with in carrying out their duties as members. True points of privilege are very rare and serious.

The office or responsibilities of a cabinet minister.

An order of business in the Daily Routine when members may present petitions to the House of Assembly on behalf of groups of citizens who are appealing for some kind of action.

Bills introduced by members other than cabinet ministers or by cabinet ministers in their capacity as private members. Unlike Private Members Public Bills, private and local bills do not have general application throughout the province. Private bills apply only to an individual or group of individuals while local bills apply within a particular geographical area or to a particular municipality.

A bill that enacts or amends laws that apply to the entire province but are introduced either by members other than cabinet ministers or by cabinet ministers in their capacity as private members.

An official notice issued by the Lieutenant Governor. The House of Assembly is called into session by proclamation upon the advice of the Executive Council.

The informal name for the Order of the Day formally known as Oral Questions Put by Members to Ministers. During this time, members can ask cabinet ministers direct questions about government priorities and policies. Question Period occurs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for not more than fifty minutes. Questions must be concisely presented and related to matters for which the minister is responsible.

A political party recognized in accordance with the Elections Act. To be recognized, a party must have had candidates standing for election in three quarters of the seats in the House of Assembly and received ten percent or more of the votes officially recorded in the last general election.

A law made under the authority of a statute. Regulations outline rights, and create duties, obligations, and responsibilities for those affected by the regulation. They have the same binding legal effect as statutes, but are made by persons or bodies to whom the Legislature has delegated its law-making power, such as the Governor in Council, a minister, or an administrative body or agency.

Second reading is moved by the member who introduced the bill. The member usually explains the general principle or principles underlying the bill. A debate follows, in which any member may speak for up to one hour, but only on the bill’s general principles. Specific sections are debated in committee stage by either the Law Amendments Committee or the Private and Local Bills Committee, and Committee of the Whole House on Bills.

A series of sittings of the House of Assembly during a General Assembly. A new session begins upon the summoning of the Members of the Legislative Assembly by the Lieutenant Governor and begins with a Speech from the Throne. The House cannot sit until its members have been summoned. The Lieutenant Governor may end the session at any time by proroguing the House and, in that case, the House cannot sit again until its members are summoned to start a new session. A session may also be ended by the dissolution of the House for an election. In present practice, the House is only prorogued immediately before the commencement of a new session.

The Speaker presides over the House of Assembly and is also a Member of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker is elected after a general election or during a vacancy. The House may not conduct any business until a Speaker has been elected. Any member can be nominated for the position except a member of the Executive Council, the Leader of the Opposition, or the leader of a recognized party. If there is more than one nominee then the election is by secret ballot.

The Speaker preserves order and decorum and decides questions of order. The Speaker does not take part in House debates or vote except to break a tie. However, when the House is in committee, the Speaker may participate in a debate and vote on any question.

A committee of Members of the Legislative Assembly mandated by standing orders.  All standing committees are appointed for the life of a General Assembly; however, membership changes may be made by government motion at any time.

The order of business in the Daily Routine when statements are made by cabinet ministers acknowledging special events or announcing new policies, programs, or directions for their departments or for the government as a whole.

Term used to refer to all persons who are not Members of the Legislative Assembly, officers, or staff of the House.

The leader of the political party in the House that has fewer members than the Official Opposition.