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class="inner"> <strong>You are here:</strong> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/">Parliament home page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/">MPs, Lords & offices</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/">Parliamentary offices</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/">Commons offices</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/office-chief-executive/">Office of the Chief Executive</a></li><li>Commons Briefing Notes</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="secondary-navigation"> <ul><li class="grand-parent"><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/">Parliamentary offices</a><ul><li class="grand-parent"><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/">Commons offices</a><ul><li class="parent"><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/office-chief-executive/">Office of the Chief Executive</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Commons Briefing Notes </h1> <div class="inner">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>The Commons Briefing Notes are brief, authoritative notes covering a range of issues relevant to the work and procedures of the House of Commons.</p> </div>   <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlMainBody_wrapperDiv" class="rte"> <p></p><div> <p>Commons briefing notes are produced by the House of Commons Service under the authority of the Clerk of the House and Chief Executive for the information of Members of Parliament, the public and the media.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/speakers-election-guidance.pdf" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 1: Speaker鈥檚 election (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 151 KB)</a><br/>Following the General Election, the process for choosing a Speaker of the House of Commons started on Tuesday 18 May, the day Parliament meets.</li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/maiden-speeches-guidance.pdf" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 2: Maiden speeches (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 159 KB)</a><br/>Your maiden speech will be an important personal moment and a significant event in your parliamentary career. The staff of the House is ready to help you prepare for it.</div></li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/swearing-in-of-members.pdf" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 3: Swearing-in of Members at the start of a Parliament (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 173 KB)</a><br/>A note explaining the process of swearing-in, which all Members must do at the start of the new Parliament. It sets out the process and explains its importance.</div></li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/queens-speech-guidance.pdf" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 4: Queen's Speech (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 164 KB)</a><br/>Following the State Opening of Parliament, the House of Commons debates the Government鈥檚 legislative programme, as outlined in the Queen鈥檚 Speech. </div></li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/briefing-note-ballot-select-committee-chairs.pdf" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 5: Ballots for the Election of Select Committee Chairs (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 180 KB)</a>This note describes the practical arrangements for the election of select committee chairs by secret ballot. This procedure is set out in detail in Standing Order No. 122B.</div></li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/briefing-ballot-deputy-speakers-election.pdf" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 6: Ballot for the election of Deputy Speakers (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 183 KB)</a> <br/>This note describes the practical arrangements for the election of the three Deputy Speakers by secret ballot on Tuesday 8 June. This procedure is set out in detail in Standing Order No. 2A.</div></li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/election-backbench-business-committee-guidance.pdf" rel="external" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 7: Ballots for the election of the Backbench Business Committee (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 167 KB)</a><br/>This note describes the practical arrangements for the separate ballots for the election of the Chair and Members of the Backbench Business Committee under the Order of the House of 15 June 2010. </div></li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/briefing-note7a-backbench-business-committee.pdf" rel="external" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 7a: Ballot for the election of Members of the Backbench Business Committee (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 163 KB)</a><br/>This note describes the practical arrangements for the ballot for the election of the Members of the Backbench Business Committee.</div></li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/conventions-and-courtesies-guidance.pdf" rel="external" class="document">Commons Briefing Note 8: Revised guidance on courtesies (<span><img src="/web/20111207145635im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 163 KB)</a>Revised guidance on the conventions and courtesies of the House.  This guidance is issued by the Speaker at the start of the 2010 Parliament to assist Members.</div></li> <li> <div><a href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/CommonsBriefingnote9-electionBBBC%5bWEB%5d.pdf">Commons Briefing Note 9: Ballot for the election of two Labour Members of the Backbench Business Committee <br/></a>(PDF 152 KB) This note describes the practical arrangements for the ballot for the by election for two Labour Members of the Backbench Business Committee under Standing Order No. 122D.</div></li></ul>  </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="panel"> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20111207145635/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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