Floor Plan Of The House Commons: An Architectural Marvel
The House of Commons, the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, is an iconic building steeped in history and architectural splendor. Its floor plan has been meticulously designed to facilitate efficient parliamentary proceedings and reflect the power and prestige of the body it houses.
The layout of the House of Commons is a rectangular chamber, measuring approximately 75 feet long by 45 feet wide. The hall is dominated by a central aisle that runs the length of the room, dividing it into two equal halves. On either side of the aisle are long rows of densely packed benches, known as 'benches', upon which the members of Parliament (MPs) sit.
The Speaker of the House, who presides over and manages the proceedings of the House, occupies a raised chair at the far end of the chamber, facing the MPs. The Speaker's chair is placed on an elevated platform, known as the 'Chair of the House', and is adorned with the royal coat of arms.
In front of the Speaker's chair, on either side of the central aisle, are two desks known as 'the table' and 'the dispatch box'. The table is used by the Clerks of the House to record the proceedings of the House, while the dispatch box is used by the ministers to deliver speeches and table documents.
Directly behind the Speaker's chair, in the center of the chamber, is the 'Bar of the House'. The Bar of the House marks the physical and symbolic boundary between the Commons and the public galleries, which are located on the upper level of the chamber. The public galleries provide a limited number of seats for visitors to observe the proceedings of the House.
The floor plan of the House of Commons has remained largely unchanged since the 19th century. However, certain modifications have been made over the years to accommodate the growing number of MPs and to meet the evolving needs of Parliament. Notably, in 1943, a new debating chamber was built to replace the old chamber, which had been destroyed by German bombing during World War II.
The floor plan of the House of Commons is not merely a functional arrangement of space. It is also a powerful symbol of British democracy and parliamentary tradition. The central aisle represents the division between the government and the opposition, while the Speaker's chair symbolizes the impartial authority that presides over the proceedings.
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