The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant changes brought about by the Union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
The Honourable the Commons of the Kingdom of Great Britain in Parliament assembled | |
|---|---|
 Royal coat of arms of Great Britain, 1714-1800 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Established | 1 May 1707 |
| Disbanded | 31 December 1800 |
| Preceded by | House of Commons of England Third Estate of the Parliament of Scotland |
| Succeeded by | House of Commons of the United Kingdom |
| Leadership | |
Speaker of the House | Henry Addington since 1789 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 558 |
| Salary | none |
| Elections | |
Voting system | First past the post with limited suffrage |
| Meeting place | |
| St Stephen's Chapel, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London | |
| Footnotes | |
| See also: Irish House of Commons | |
In the course of the 18th century, the office of prime minister developed. The notion that a government remains in power only as long as it retains the support of Parliament also evolved, leading to the first motion of no confidence, when Lord North's government failed to end the American Revolution. The modern notion that only the support of the House of Commons is necessary for a government to survive, however, was of later development. Similarly, the custom that the Prime Minister is always a Member of the Lower House, rather than the Upper one, did not evolve until the twentieth century.
The business of the house was controlled by an elected Speaker. The Speaker's official role was to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The Speaker decided who may speak and had the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the house. The Speaker often also represented the body in person, as the voice of the body in ceremonial and some other situations. The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerford in the Parliament of England. By convention, Speakers are normally addressed in Parliament as Mister Speaker, if a man, or Madam Speaker, if a woman.
In 1801, the House was enlarged to become the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, as a result of the Act of Union of 1800 which combined Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Creation
The members of the last House of Commons of England had been elected between 7 May and 6 June 1705, and from 1707 they all continued to sit as members of the new House of Commons. The last general election in Scotland had been held in the autumn of 1702, and from 1707 only forty-five of the members of the Parliament of Scotland joined the new house. In Scotland there was also no new election from the burghs, and the places available were filled by co-option from the last Parliament.
Parliamentary constituencies
The constituencies which elected members in England and Wales remained unchanged throughout the existence of the Parliament of Great Britain.
| Country | Constituencies | Members | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borough /Burgh | County | University | Total | Borough /Burgh | County | University | Total | |
| England | 203 | 40 | 2 | 245 | 405 | 80 | 4 | 489 |
| Wales | 12 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 24 |
| Scotland | 15 | 30 | 0 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 0 | 45 |
| Total | 230 | 82 | 2 | 314 | 432 | 122 | 4 | 558 |
Sources:
- Chris Cook & John Stevenson, British Historical Facts 1760-1830 (The Macmillan Press, 1980)
- Colin Rallings & Michael Thrasher, British Electoral Facts 1832-1999 (Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2000)
See also
- Elections in Great Britain
- Unreformed House of Commons
- List of parliaments of Great Britain
- First Parliament of Great Britain
- 2nd Parliament of Great Britain
- List of members of the House of Commons at Westminster 1705–1708
- List of speakers of the British House of Commons
- The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III
References
- Chris Cook & John Stevenson, British Historical Facts 1760-1830 (The Macmillan Press, 1980)
- Monmouthshire, with one county constituency represented by two members and one single-member borough constituency, is included in England. In later centuries it was included in Wales.
Further reading
- Almon, J. (1775). "The Parliamentary Register; Or, History of the Proceedings and Debates of the (House of Lords and House of Commons): Proceedings of the 14. Parliament, sess. 1–6; v. 18–62, Proceedings of the 15. to 17. Parliament, sess. 1–6; v. 63–77, Proceedings of the 18. Parliament, sess. 1–6".
External links
- 18th Century Parliamentary Papers
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801 In 1707 as a result of the Acts of Union of that year it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland as one of the most significant changes brought about by the Union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain The Honourable the Commons of the Kingdom of Great Britain in Parliament assembledRoyal coat of arms of Great Britain 1714 1800TypeTypeLower house of the Parliament of Great BritainHistoryEstablished1 May 1707Disbanded31 December 1800Preceded byHouse of Commons of England Third Estate of the Parliament of ScotlandSucceeded byHouse of Commons of the United KingdomLeadershipSpeaker of the HouseHenry Addington since 1789StructureSeats558SalarynoneElectionsVoting systemFirst past the post with limited suffrageMeeting placeSt Stephen s Chapel Palace of Westminster Westminster LondonFootnotesSee also Irish House of Commons In the course of the 18th century the office of prime minister developed The notion that a government remains in power only as long as it retains the support of Parliament also evolved leading to the first motion of no confidence when Lord North s government failed to end the American Revolution The modern notion that only the support of the House of Commons is necessary for a government to survive however was of later development Similarly the custom that the Prime Minister is always a Member of the Lower House rather than the Upper one did not evolve until the twentieth century The business of the house was controlled by an elected Speaker The Speaker s official role was to moderate debate make rulings on procedure announce the results of votes and the like The Speaker decided who may speak and had the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the house The Speaker often also represented the body in person as the voice of the body in ceremonial and some other situations The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerford in the Parliament of England By convention Speakers are normally addressed in Parliament as Mister Speaker if a man or Madam Speaker if a woman In 1801 the House was enlarged to become the House of Commons of the United Kingdom as a result of the Act of Union of 1800 which combined Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Pitt addressing the House in The House of Commons 1793 94 by Anton HickelCreationThe members of the last House of Commons of England had been elected between 7 May and 6 June 1705 and from 1707 they all continued to sit as members of the new House of Commons The last general election in Scotland had been held in the autumn of 1702 and from 1707 only forty five of the members of the Parliament of Scotland joined the new house In Scotland there was also no new election from the burghs and the places available were filled by co option from the last Parliament Parliamentary constituenciesThe constituencies which elected members in England and Wales remained unchanged throughout the existence of the Parliament of Great Britain Table of Constituencies and Members of the Parliament Country Constituencies MembersBorough Burgh County University Total Borough Burgh County University TotalEngland 203 40 2 245 405 80 4 489Wales 12 12 0 24 12 12 0 24Scotland 15 30 0 45 15 30 0 45Total 230 82 2 314 432 122 4 558 Sources Chris Cook amp John Stevenson British Historical Facts 1760 1830 The Macmillan Press 1980 Colin Rallings amp Michael Thrasher British Electoral Facts 1832 1999 Ashgate Publishing Ltd 2000 See alsoElections in Great Britain Unreformed House of Commons List of parliaments of Great Britain First Parliament of Great Britain 2nd Parliament of Great Britain List of members of the House of Commons at Westminster 1705 1708 List of speakers of the British House of Commons The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George IIIReferencesChris Cook amp John Stevenson British Historical Facts 1760 1830 The Macmillan Press 1980 Monmouthshire with one county constituency represented by two members and one single member borough constituency is included in England In later centuries it was included in Wales Further readingAlmon J 1775 The Parliamentary Register Or History of the Proceedings and Debates of the House of Lords and House of Commons Proceedings of the 14 Parliament sess 1 6 v 18 62 Proceedings of the 15 to 17 Parliament sess 1 6 v 63 77 Proceedings of the 18 Parliament sess 1 6 External links18th Century Parliamentary Papers 51 29 59 6 N 0 07 28 8 W 51 499889 N 0 124667 W 51 499889 0 124667
