954:
1036:, the party leaders sit in the front row, but there are no designated places for other senior figures. The term backbenchers ("Hinterbänkler") therefore refers to largely unknown MPs without much influence, regardless of where they sit. Originally, the importance of the front rows for the leaders had also to do with the fact that acoustics were often unsatisfactory before microphones were introduced. Prominent or iconic political figures can also play a backbench role, as the case of
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1205:. Furthermore, they have influence as discussed above when they are a member of a committee, these committees provide a perfect opportunity for backbenchers to have their voices heard in the legislative process. It usually proves difficult for backbenchers to be involved and have direct input in the legislative process when they are not involved in these activities.
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The most important backbench role is that of a constituency representative; constituents rely heavily on their MPs to represent them in parliament and make sure their concerns are heard, whether or not they voted for the MP representing them. Constituents may email and meet their MPs, raising the
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parliamentary systems, where
Ministers cannot serve as MPs simultaneously, collectively they can sometimes exercise considerable power, especially in cases where the policies of the government are unpopular or when a governing party or coalition is internally split. Government backbenchers carry
1004:. A backbencher may be a new parliamentary member yet to receive a high office, a senior figure dropped from government, someone who for whatever reason is not chosen to sit in the government or an opposition spokesperson (such as a
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do not share the firm front bench/back bench dichotomy of the
Westminster system, the term has been used to denote junior legislators or legislators who are not part of party leadership within a legislative body.
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In most parliamentary systems, individual backbenchers have little power to affect government policy. However, they play a greater role in the work of the legislature itself; for example, sitting on parliamentary
1016:, where legislation is considered and parliamentary work is done in more detail than there is time for on the floor of the House. In addition, since backbenchers generally form the vast majority of government
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reforms introduced in the UK provided backbenchers with much more power in committees, giving
Parliament greater control of its agenda, and increasing backbench membership in committees vastly.
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was created in 2010 with cross-party support. It debates matters unlikely to be debated in government time, with each decision voted upon formally. By the end of 2010
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issues and concerns they want the government to hear. Backbenchers have an important opportunity to raise their constituents concerns directly to the
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If the information is appropriate for the lead of the article, this information should also be included in the body of the article.
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In some legislative assemblies, sitting at the back of the chamber is not necessarily associated with having a minor role. In
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The term dates from 1855. The term derives from the fact that they sit physically behind the frontbench in the
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Backbenchers also have an unofficial agenda-setting power, with
Opposition Day debates,
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The term "backbencher" has also been adopted outside parliamentary systems, such as the
1278:
Searing, Donald (July 1995). "Backbench and
Leadership Roles in The House of Commons".
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1307:"A Disciplined Dissident: Aung San Suu Kyi as Opposition Backbencher (2012-2016)"
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it had undergone 300 debates, ranging from prisoner voting rights to the
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considerable influence when they are in a party with a small majority.
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Heffernan, Richard; Hay, Colin; Russell, Meg; Cowley, Philip (2016).
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contains information that is not included elsewhere in the article
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deal primarily with the United
Kingdom and do not represent a
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personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay
1242:", Merriam-Webster Dictionary; accessed 30 September 2013.
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1374:. Basingstoke : Macmillan. pp. 141–154.
30:"Backbench" redirects here. For other uses, see
1372:Member of Parliament: The Job of a Backbencher
1487:Organizational structure of political parties
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98:The examples and perspective in this article
8:
78:Learn how and when to remove these messages
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204:Learn how and when to remove this message
186:Learn how and when to remove this message
136:Learn how and when to remove this message
37:For the New Zealand television show, see
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1432:. London: Palgrave. pp. 110–111.
1220:House of Commons of the United Kingdom
1457:The BBC's definition of 'backbencher'
981:(MP) or a legislator who occupies no
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1195:Commons Backbench Business Committee
1462:Article/definition of 'backbencher'
1397:Developments in British Politics 10
25:
1292:10.1093/oxfordjournals.pa.a052543
59:This article has multiple issues.
1482:Parliament of the United Kingdom
1430:Developments In British Politics
1305:Egreteau, Renaud (4 June 2021).
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1345:"Minnesota Progressive Project"
67:or discuss these issues on the
957:Opposition backbenches in the
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1253:"UK Politics | Backbencher"
1040:illustrates: the leader of
893:Political parties by region
683:Party convention/conference
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880:Lists of political parties
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32:Backbench (disambiguation)
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888:Ruling parties by country
861:National unity government
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959:British House of Commons
898:Banned political parties
598:Leader of the Opposition
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529:Parliamentary opposition
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1134:by rewriting it in an
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1311:Parliamentary Affairs
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1203:Hillsborough disaster
971:parliamentary systems
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831:Confidence and supply
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816:Parliamentary group
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355:Christian democracy
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1193:Additionally, the
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1083:. You can help by
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821:Divided government
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239:Political Spectrum
1414:978-1-137-49473-3
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39:Back Benches
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1317:: 232–249.
1263:26 November
1030:Switzerland
975:backbencher
967:Westminster
780:Multi-party
623:Party chair
573:Backbencher
509:Minor party
505:Major party
485:Competitive
475:Elite party
410:Nationalism
345:Agrarianism
283:Centre-Left
263:Centre-Left
1471:Categories
1226:References
1064:By country
1014:committees
991:Opposition
987:frontbench
969:and other
807:Coalitions
725:Party line
514:Mass party
470:Bloc party
445:Syncretism
405:Monarchism
395:Liberalism
337:Ideologies
303:Right-Wing
176:March 2023
126:March 2023
64:improve it
1331:0031-2290
1240:Backbench
1144:June 2022
1092:June 2022
1022:dualistic
775:Two-party
761:One-party
678:Open list
638:Secretary
450:Third Way
440:Socialism
360:Communism
350:Anarchism
318:Far-Right
248:Left-Wing
114:talk page
70:talk page
1257:BBC NEWS
1209:See also
1051:. While
415:Populism
390:Islamism
380:Feminism
258:Far-Left
108:You may
1355:11 July
1130:Please
1042:Myanmar
1034:Germany
961:chamber
375:Fascism
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1182:, and
578:Caucus
335:Major
273:Centre
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