"Though mainly a book of practice, it is, however, by no means a mere epitome of rules of procedure. Enlarging upon the example of Sir Erskine May, Mr. Bourinot outlines the whole political system of the Dominion; and within the wide field thus surveyed, there is much of the deepest interest to students and reformers of parliamentary institutions at home."--A. H. B. Constable, The Juridical Review 4 (1893) 273. "The object which the author has had constantly in view...is to give such a summary of the rules and principles which guide the practice and proceedings of the Parliament of Canada as will assist the parliamentarian and all others who may be concerned in the working of our legislative system. (...) It is, moreover, been the writer's aim, not only to explain as fully as possible the rules and usages adopted in Canada, but also to give such copious references to the best authorities...as will enable the reader to compare Canadian with British procedure." --Preface, xi. Sir John George Bourinot [1836-1902] founded the Evening Reporter with Joseph C. Crosskill in 1860 and was a founding member and honorary secretary of the Royal Society of Canada. He wrote many distinguished books on Canadian political history. Two of them, How Canada is Governed (1895) and Canada Under British Rule, 1760-1900 (1900), were standard references for decades. Thomas Barnard Flint [1847-1919] was a lawyer and politician in Nova Scotia, Canada. He was assistant clerk for the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1887-1891. In 1902 he was named Clerk of the House of Commons and remained in that position until 1918.

This reference book is primarily a procedural work which examines the many forms, customs, and practices which have been developed and established for the House of Commons since Confederation in 1867. It provides a distinctive Canadian perspective in describing procedure in the House up to the end of the first session of the 36th Parliament in Sept. 1999. The material is presented with full commentary on the historical circumstances which have shaped the current approach to parliamentary business. Key Speaker's rulings and statements are also documented and the considerable body of practice, interpretation, and precedents unique to the Canadian House of Commons is amply illustrated. Chapters of the book cover the following: parliamentary institutions; parliaments and ministries; privileges and immunities; the House and its Members; parliamentary procedure; the physical & administrative setting; the Speaker & other presiding officers; the parliamentary cycle; sittings of the House; the daily program; oral & written questions; the process of debate; rules of order & decorum; the curtailment of debate; special debates; the legislative process; delegated legislation; financial procedures; committees of the whole House; committees; private Members' business; public petitions; private bills practice; and the parliamentary record. Includes index.