The Legislative Branch of Government:Fill in the Blanks

MPs have many roles within the House of Commons. Most belong to one political party or another and are expected to support the prevailing views of their group. Those who do not belong to a party are called

______. Another MP who is not committed to support the views of a particular party, despite being elected as a member of one, is the

______of the House. Because s/he is the “referee” in the House, he is expected to act impartially.

MPs are seated on the ______within the House of Commons chamber. Directly across from the Prime Minister, on the opposite side of the floor, sites are the leader of the ______

______. S/He, and other opposition pick selected members to criticize specific government ministers. These groups are referred to as

______

Time is set aside each week for all members of party to meet in the

______. Policy is discussed here and members work out any problems that they might have with it. This done, unity is preserved and members can show ______with the party’s stand.

The other chamber, the Senate, was intended as a place for “sober second thought”. Not having to posture for future re-election, Senators can afford to make unpopular stands if they feel it necessary and have the power to

______(forbid) legislation, though they rarely use it.