Theory and practice of modern government

LOWER Chambers occupy themselves with three main func-
tions : law-making, control of the executive, and inves-
tigations relevant to these. Let us take these in turn and
observe how the rules of procedure, written and unwritten, provide
for them.
Law-making. This falls into two main processes: the making
of laws of general concern, or Public Bills; and the making of laws
of private concern, or Private Bills. The latter are not treated in
this work : 1 we deal only with Public Bills.
Law-making assemblies find themselves in need of (1) guidance
in regard to the time they may spend upon particular subjects
of deliberation, and the priority in which they are to be considered ;
(2) guidance by experts upon the substance and drafting of the law
and instruction on its probable results; and (3) appropriate rules
of deliberation.
Time and Priority. It is clear that there must be some regula-
tion, the minimum of which is to divide the time between majority
and minority, and to settle which business is to come first. Further,
there may be the need for setting a limit to the amount of time allowed