Parliamentary Procedure

Parliamentary procedure at the Legislative Assembly is founded on constitutional and statutory provisions, the Standing Orders, Speakers’ rulings establishing precedents, and customary practices which may evolve over time. Assembly proceedings are regulated by a vast body of parliamentary rules and practices intended to expedite the business of the Assembly while ensuring the right of each Member to participate in the parliamentary process.

Standing Orders  

Standing Orders are the formal written rules adopted by the Legislative Assembly to govern its proceedings. The continuing or “standing” nature of these rules means that they remain in effect until the Legislative Assembly itself decides to suspend, change, or replace them. A key objective of the Standing Orders is to support and implement constitutional and statutory requirements as the Assembly has determined should apply to the conduct of its business.

Temporary sessional orders change or supplement existing rules for the session in which they were adopted, while special orders may apply to a single or special occasion.

The Speaker and other Presiding Officers are responsible for the enforcement of the Standing Orders and for deciding any questions regarding their application and interpretation.

The Clerks-at-the-Table (Table Officers), seated at the Table in front of the Speaker, are available to provide procedural information and advice on interpreting the Standing Orders.

Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia  

The procedural authority of choice at the Legislative Assembly is Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia, 5th Edition, edited by Kate Ryan-Lloyd, the current Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. The book’s 18 chapters are organized thematically and cover a range of topics including parliamentary procedure, the role of Members, order and decorum, parliamentary committees, and parliamentary privilege.

There is also an online version of Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia that allows users to browse the full text and perform key word searches.

Speakers’ Rulings  

Speakers’ rulings are an important part of our parliamentary practice and address procedural questions raised by Members.

Standing Order 9 provides for the Speaker to “decide questions of order and practice.” Speakers’ rulings are decisions based on the Legislative Assembly’s rules and practices and how they should be applied and interpreted.