Debate
A debate is a formal discussion on a topic in the House of Commons or House of Lords. Members take it in turns to speak on the subject concerned. The debate is strictly controlled by a set of rules and is presided over by the Speaker in the House of Commons. In the House of Lords, members are responsible for controlling the debate themselves.

Deferred Divisions
In its second report of 1999-2000, the Modernisation Committee proposed a scheme of deferred divisions. New sessional orders were accordingly drafted and the motion on the proposed Sessional Order on deferred divisions was debated on 7 November 2000. The Order allows for some divisions that would normally take place after the moment of interruption (10pm on Monday, 7pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and 6pm on Thursday) to be deferred until the next sitting Wednesday. Business subject to this procedure includes motions on statutory instruments and on certain types of motion which are not subject to amendment. Proceedings on Bills are excluded from this procedure.

Democracy
Democracy is government by the people. In today's democratic societies this is usually through elected representatives. Democratic societies are recognised by the control of the government by the people, and freedom of speech and the press.

Department for Constitutional Affairs
The Department for Constitutional Affairs is the Government Department responsible for the administration of the Courts (excluding Magistrates) and certain Tribunals, administration of Grant to Magistrates Courts Committees, reform of the Constitution, reform of the civil law, and the appointment of the Judiciary (including the lay Magistracy), and relationships with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. On 12 June 2003 the Scotland Office and Wales Office became part of the DCA, for administration purposes, while retaining their separate identities. Further information can be obtained from the DCA website.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is the Government Department responsible for cultural and sporting activities and the strengthening of the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

Department for Education and Skills
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is the Government Department responsible for schools, colleges, universities and adult education. It looks at equal opportunities in education and employment and looks after the careers service.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the Government Department formed from the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The department is responsible for looking after environmental protection, the countryside, animal welfare, food and farming.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the Government Department formed from the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The department is responsible for looking after environmental protection, the countryside, animal welfare, food and farming.

Department for International Development
The Department for International Development is the Government Department responsible for promoting sustainable development and eliminating world poverty.

Department for Transport
The Department for Transport (DfT) is the Government Department formed from the former Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. The department is responsible for the delivery of a reliable, safe and secure transport system whilst safeguarding our environment.

Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is the Government Department responsible for employment, New Deal, pensions, age discrimination, child benefit, poverty and social exclusion, disability rights, carers and long term care, housing benefit, industrial injuries and jobseekers allowance.

Department of Health
The Department of Health is the Government Department which is responsible for the National Health Service in England. It looks after hospitals, local social services and matters of public health.

Department of Trade and Industry
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is the Government Department responsible for relations with business, science and technology, consumer affairs and the Women and Equality Unit. It looks at investment, small businesses and overseas trade amongst other things.

Departmental Select Committees
Departmental Select Committees are committees of backbench MPs in the House of Commons which are set up to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of each of the main Government Departments. They are formed for the duration of a Parliament.

Departments of the House of Commons
There are six Departments in the House of Commons - the Clerk's Department, the Serjeant's Department, the Library, the Official Report, the Finance and Administration Department and the Refreshment Department. All of the Departments are responsible to the House of Commons Commission, a statutory body of Members presided over by the Speaker. Each of the Departments has its own head that is responsible for the day-to-day running of services.

Deposit
The idea of the deposit was first introduced in the Representation of the People Act 1918. It is a sum of money paid by candidates in an election. The deposit is forfeited in the event of a candidate not polling a certain percentage of the total votes. Deposits are supposed to deter candidates who are not serious from standing for Parliamentary election. The deposit is currently £500 and is forfeited if a candidate polls less than 5% of the vote.

Deposited Papers
Deposited Papers are any papers that are placed in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords Library by a Minister or the Speaker, which have not been presented to the House in any other way (for example an Act, a Command Paper, or a House of Commons paper). The oldest paper dates from 1832 and concerns an investigation into the Rajah of Travacore's debt payments. The vast majority of Deposited Papers are placed by Ministers in reply to Parliamentary Questions. In some cases Departments may consider that depositing a paper meets the wish of MPs to be informed about a subject without the need for them to formally publish it. MPs other than Ministers may not deposit papers.

Deputy Speakers
The Speaker has three Deputies to assist with Parliamentary Business. Up until the mid nineteenth century the Speaker had no deputies but a series of all-night sittings of the House of Commons convinced MPs of the need for a deputy. Of the three deputies one of them holds the additional title of the Chairman of Ways and Means , the others are Deputy Chairmen of Ways and Means. Like the Speaker the Deputy Speakers are selected from amongst MPs.

Deregulation Orders
The Regulatory Reform Act 2001 extended the provisions of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 enabling the Government to amend or repeal a provision in primary legislation which is considered to impose a burden on business or others. This is done through a Regulatory Reform Orders formerly known as a Deregulation Order. The relevant Government Department must first draft a proposal for the order and consult representatives of those who are affected. After considering the results the Government may change all or part of the proposal or withdraw it completely.

Despatch Box
There are two Despatch Boxes in each House situated on either side of the Table which separates the Government from the Opposition on the Floor of the House. Ministers and Shadow Ministers stand at the Despatch Boxes when they speak in the Chamber, and often lean on the box and thump it for emphasis during their speeches. The Despatch Boxes in the House of Commons were presented to the Commons by New Zealand after the post-war rebuilding of the Chamber. Despite their name, the Despatch Boxes are not used to contain documents or despatches but hold bibles and other items used when Members take the oath.

Devolution
Devolution is the decentralisation of governmental power. The most recent examples of devolution are the setting up of the Scottish Parliament and elected assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland in 1998.

Disqualification
Not everyone has the right to become an MP. There are several groups of people who are disqualified: Those who are not British, Commonwealth or Irish Republic citizens and those under 21; Members of the House of Lords including those bishops who are Lords Spiritual; undischarged bankrupts; those who have served more than one year in prison while detained serving their sentence or unlawfully at large; those found guilty of illegal or corrupt practices in an election; members of the Civil Service, Armed Forces and the Police and many public office holders.

Dissolution
Dissolution is the official term for the end of a Parliament. A Parliament can last for up to five years. The Prime Minister may call a General Election before this date but at the end of the Parliament he or she asks the Monarch to grant a Dissolution. Parliament is dissolved by Royal Proclamation.

Draft Bills
A draft Bill is a Bill that is considered in draft, often by a departmental select committee, before it is introduced in Parliament. This allows Members who are specialised in the subject to have early influence on the Bill. This process is known as pre-legislative scrutiny.

Duration of Parliament
A Parliament can last up to five years but after that time there must be a General Election. The Prime Minister can call an election before the five years are over.

Courtesy of www.parliament.uk