Expel a Member

The action of the House in ridding itself of one of its Members who is, in its opinion, unfit for membership in the House.

Compare: naming a Member; suspend a Member.

Expanded negative

An amendment which, although it is not expressed in the same terms, would have the same effect as an amendment proposing the negative of the motion under consideration. Such an amendment is not in order.

Estimates

The departmental expenditure plans, consisting of Main Estimates, tabled annually, and Supplementary Estimates, tabled as required.

Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice

A procedural authority providing a complete description of the rules, practices and precedents in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons at Westminster. The original edition was prepared in 1844 by Sir Thomas Erskine May, Clerk of the British House. Commonly referred to as Erskine May or simply May.

Enacting clause

A short paragraph preceding the sections of an Act, which indicates the authority by which it is made. In Antigua and Barbuda’s legislation is enacted by the Parliament of Antigua.

Enabling legislation

Legislation which confers the power to do something; many Government proposals, such as international trade agreements, require such measures before they can be acted upon.

Enabling clause

The part of a bill giving the appropriate authorities the power to bring the provisions of the bill into force.

Emergency debate

A debate held on a motion to adjourn, devoted to the discussion of a specific and important matter requiring urgent consideration. Such a debate has the effect of interrupting the business then before the House. When a Member requests an emergency debate, the Speaker/President of the Senate decides whether or not the request will be granted; one factor is whether the matter can be dealt with by the House in another way; another is whether it relates to a genuine emergency.

Election

The process of choosing a representative by vote.

Electoral district

Any place or territorial area entitled to return an MP to represent it in the House of Representatives. During debate, MPs are identified not by their own names but often by the name of their electoral district.