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Приложение 4. Traditions.
Dragging the Speaker of the House of Commons
When a new Speaker of the House of Commons is elected,
the successful candidate is physically dragged to the Chair by
other MPs.
This custom has its roots in the Speaker's function to com-
municate the Commons' opinions to the monarch. Historically, if
the monarch didn't agree with the message being communicated
then the early death of the Speaker could follow. Therefore, as
you can imagine, previous Speakers required some gentle persua-
sion to accept the post.
Voting
When MPs vote in the Commons they say 'aye' or 'no'. In
the Lords, Members vote saying 'content' or 'not content'.
Prayers
Each sitting in both Houses begins with prayers that follow
the Christian faith. In the Commons the Speaker's Chaplain usu-
ally reads the prayers. In the Lords a senior bishop (Lord Spiri-
tual) who sits in the Lords usually reads the prayers.
Catching the Speaker's eye
To participate in a debate in the House of Commons or at
question time, MPs have to be called by the Speaker. MPs usually
rise or half-rise from their seats in a bid to get the Speaker's at-
tention - this is known as 'catching the Speaker's eye'.
The Woolsack in the House of Lords
The Woolsack is the seat of the Lord Speaker in the House
of Lords Chamber. The Woolsack is a large, wool-stuffed cush-
ion or seat covered with red cloth.
The Lord Speaker on the Woolsack
The Lord Speaker presides over
debates in the House of
Lords, but does not control them like the Speaker in the Com-
mons, as Members of the Lords regulate their own discussions. If
a Deputy Speaker presides in the
absence of the Lord Speaker,
then that individual uses the Woolsack.
When the House of
