Overview of the House
Overview of the House
What Members of Parliament Do
For nearly 150 years, Members of Parliament have upheld the principles and practices of Canadian democracy, including representing the regional and local concerns of the citizens who elect them. Members consider and vote on draft legislation in the Chamber, attend committee and caucus meetings, and perform a wide range of duties in their constituency offices across the country. They also represent Canada when travelling abroad on official business or when hosting foreign dignitaries.
What the House of Commons Administration Does
The House Administration provides Members with services, infrastructure and advice to help them carry out their work on Parliament Hill and in their constituencies. This includes producing the House of Commons’ daily publications (in print and online), providing technological connectivity to Members, and ensuring the Parliamentary Precinct is secure and equipped to accommodate a number of different activities.
Chamber
The Chamber is where Members come together to debate issues of national importance, receive official documents tabled by government departments and agencies, and debate and vote on potential new laws. All of these activities are presided over by the Speaker of the House (or one of the Chair occupants).
Committees
In committees, Members conduct in-depth studies of issues that matter to Canadians. They study and amend proposed legislation, examine government spending, conduct inquiries, and receive input from experts and other citizens.
Caucuses
Most Members of Parliament belong to a political party and as such are members of their party’s parliamentary caucus. Each caucus meets weekly to discuss policies, plan parliamentary strategy and develop party positions on issues being debated in the House of Commons. Held in private, caucus meetings allow Members to express their views and opinions freely without compromising party unity.
Constituencies
Each of Canada’s 308 constituencies (also called ridings or electoral districts) elects a representative to the House of Commons—that constituency’s Member of Parliament. Each Member keeps an office and employs staff in his or her constituency to connect with the people there at any time—to discuss issues of concern, attend important community events, and help them access federal programs and services. Members typically spend one week a month in their ridings (and longer when the House is not sitting during the summer and winter adjournment periods).
International
Whether welcoming visitors to the House of Commons or participating in delegations to foreign legislatures and international conferences, Members of Parliament play an active role in parliamentary diplomacy including representing our country to the rest of the world. As part of their respective roles, the Speakers of the Senate and the House also liaise with foreign dignitaries and the diplomatic community; for example, by receiving courtesy calls from arriving and departing ambassadors to Canada.
Overview of the House
With a mandate to provide impartial advice, services and support to Members of Parliament, the House of Commons Administration is guided by three core values:
Respect for the democratic process
The House Administration believes in the importance of parliamentary institutions and the democratic process, and works to foster and strengthen respect for them.
Commitment to balancing continuity and change
The House Administration preserves the collective memory of the House of Commons and its traditions while facilitating its evolution to keep pace with Canadian society, and ensures institutional continuity while supporting Members as their needs evolve.
Professional excellence
The House Administration works to provide effective, accountable and non-partisan support—acting ethically, responsibly and with integrity at all times.
The chart below outlines the governance structure of the House of Commons Administration. Click on an entity or service area to learn more about its specific roles and responsibilities.
The House of Commons Administration organizational chart shows, in a hierarchical format, the Board of Internal Economy, the Speaker and the Clerk followed by the six service areas: Parliamentary Precinct Services, Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, Procedural Services, Information Services, Finance Services and Human Resources Services.
Board of Internal Economy
Composed of Members from all recognized political parties, the Board of Internal Economy is responsible for all matters of financial and administrative policy affecting the House and its Members, premises, services and employees. It has the legal authority to make by-laws and to regulate the use of resources available to the House of Commons.
Speaker of the House of Commons
As Chair of the Board of Internal Economy, the Speaker is the head of the House Administration and is responsible for its overall direction and management. The Speaker’s administrative duties also involve ensuring that certain documents are published on behalf of the Board, including the Members’ Expenditures Report and the Report to Canadians.
Clerk of the House of Commons
As Secretary of the Board of Internal Economy, the Clerk is the chief executive of the House Administration and is responsible for the day-to-day management of House staff. The Clerk is responsible for maintaining records of the proceedings of the House, and all decisions made by the House must be authenticated by the Clerk’s signature.
Corporate Communications
The Corporate Communications team provides the Board of Internal Economy, the Speaker’s Office, the Clerk’s Office and all service areas with strategic advice, analysis, products, tools and support related to corporate communications, corporate branding, crisis communications and public outreach.
Internal Audit
As the House’s champion of good management practices, Internal Audit supports the House Administration’s mandate by providing objective and value-added assurance, risk management and advisory services on all strategic and management practices.
Procedural Services
Providing procedural and legislative advice to the Speaker of the House and Members, Procedural Services also offers support to committees, conducts research and offers training on parliamentary practice and procedure, and coordinates Members’ participation in international and interparliamentary activities.
Parliamentary Precinct Services
Parliamentary Precinct Services ensures the House is safe, secure, clean and equipped to accommodate a wide range of activities. It is also responsible for the long-term planning related to facility renovations as well as essential daily support activities such as food, transportation and delivery services.
Finance Services
Emphasizing sound financial management throughout all areas of the House, Finance Services provides advisory services and operational support in the areas of policy and financial planning, financial management, and materiel and contract management to the House Administration, Members of Parliament and their staff.
Information Services
Information Services plans, implements and maintains information technology and management services in both the House and in Members’ constituency offices. It also disseminates a variety of text, audio and video content for use during parliamentary events.
Human Resources Services
Led by the Chief Human Resources Officer, this service area provides operational support and advisory services in the areas of human resources and talent management, employee relations, occupational health and safety, organizational effectiveness, business continuity management and corporate strategic planning.
Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel
Offering comprehensive legal and legislative advice and services, the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel also has the ability to intervene in legal proceedings on behalf of the House and its Members to ensure their parliamentary privileges and immunities are protected.