Frontbencher
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In manyparliamentsand other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with eachpolitical partyorcaucusgrouped together.[1]Thespokespeoplefor each group will often sit at the front of their group, and are then known as being on thefrontbench(orfront bench) and are described as frontbenchers. Those sitting behind them are known asbackbenchers.Independent and minority parties sit to the side or on benches between the two sides, and are referred to ascrossbenchers.Frontbenchers may be part of aFrontbench Teamwith other members of their political party.
United Kingdom
[edit]
In theHouse of Commons,theGovernmentfrontbench is traditionally called the Treasury bench (HM Treasuryis the oldest government department). The government frontbench is on the right hand side as seen by the Chairman (typically theSpeaker of the House of Commonsor theLord Speaker), and is occupied by Governmentministers.Theopposition frontbenchis occupied byshadowministers, of whom the most senior form theShadow Cabinet.[2]
Canada
[edit]While backbenchers are referred to in theHouse of Commons of Canada(and the provincial legislatures), the front seats on the government side are reserved for cabinet ministers. Front row members of the governing party are not referred to as frontbenchers, but as cabinet ministers. Some "frontbenchers" actually sit in the centre of the second row, so as to be seen directly behind the party leader during Question Period (and thus, in the television frame).
The same arrangement exists for eachprovincial legislature and the territorial legislature of Yukon.In the case ofNunavutandNorthwest Territorieswhere there isconsensus governmentwith a non-partisan makeup, ministers sit amongst regular members.
Ireland
[edit]Afront benchinDáil Éireann,thelower houseof theOireachtasofIreland,refers to any organised group of party members who holds any degree of speaking power (derived from the party) on specific issues. TheTeachtaí Dála(TDs) who are members of theGovernment of Irelandconstitute the government front bench, while the members of parties in declared opposition to the government constitute the opposition front bench.
Australia
[edit]TheParliament of Australiaalso has a front bench, which includes all ministers and shadow ministers.[3][4]
In more recent times, journalists have casually referred to ministers as frontbenchers[5][6]rather than expressing the due deference of their ministerial positions.
New Zealand
[edit]New Zealand follows theWestminster traditionwhereby the front benches, or in theNew Zealand House of Representativesfrontseats,are reserved for the government and opposition leaders. The government ministers sit to theSpeaker'sright, whilst the opposition leaders sit to the Speaker's left (as seen from the Speaker's chair). The term frontbencher is therefore also used in New Zealand but usually refers to the foremost leaders and spokespersons of theOfficial Oppositionrather than those on the government front benches.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Frontbench (frontbenchers) - Glossary page".UK Parliament.Retrieved28 February2020.
- ^"What's the difference between UK frontbench and backbench MPs?".Britpolitics.Retrieved28 February2020.
- ^Dalzell, political reporter Stephanie; Worthington, political correspondent Brett (5 February 2020)."Frontbench reshuffle could leave Nationals without a woman in Cabinet and no ministers in Upper House".ABC News.Retrieved28 February2020.
{{cite web}}:|first2=has generic name (help) - ^"Frontbenchers and backbenchers".Parliamentary Education Office.Retrieved9 April2021.
- ^Harris, Rob (18 September 2019)."'Celebrity auctioneer' Gladys Liu prompts probe into government frontbencher ".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved23 November2021.
- ^Hunter, Fergus (25 October 2017)."Pressure mounts on Michaelia Cash to quit frontbench over AWU fiasco".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved23 November2021.
External links
[edit]- Frontbenchdefinition fromBBC News