and York, twenty-four English bishops, an Irish archbishop, and three Irish bishops. Q. Who are the lords temporal? A. The temporal lords consist-1st, Of all English peers, dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons; 2nd, Of sixteen Scotch peers, who are elected at the beginning of every parliament by the whole body of Scotch peers; and 3rd. Of twenty-eight Irish peers, who are elected for life from the whole body of Irish peers. Q. How created? are the lords temporal A. They are created by the crown, when it pleases. Q. Is their number fixed? A. No; it may be increased at the will of the crown. Q. Who compose the house of commons? A. It is composed, with certain exceptions, of men possessing a certain amount of property, and chosen to sit in parliament by those who are entitled to vote for the election of members of parliament. Q. What are the exceptions? A. It is not necessary for the members of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, or Dublin, or for the eldest sons of peers, of bishops having seats in the house of lords, or of persons qualified to be county members, to possess any particular amount of property to entitle them to seats in the house of commons. Q. How many members of the house of commons are there? A. 658. Q. Is any qualification necessary to entitle a person to vote for a member of parliament? A. Yes; the possession of land, or the occupation of a house of a certain annual value; except in the case of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin, the members of which are entitled to vote on certain conditions. Q. What is the nature of the power of parliament? A. The power of parliament is un limited. It can make, repeal, or revise laws relating to matters of every description. Q. Can parliament alter the succession to the throne? A. Yes; it did so in the reign of Henry VIII. and William III., and on other occasions. Q. Can parliament change the established religion? A. Yes; it did so in various instances, in the reign of Henry VIII. and his three children-Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth. Q. Can parliament alter the laws relating to the election of members of the house of commons? A. Yes; and it can alter the laws relating to the periods for which parliaments shall last. Q. How long does a parliament last? A. By an act passed in the reign of George I. it will last seven years unless it be sooner dissolved or put an end to. Q. In how many ways can parliament be dissolved, or its existence put an end to? A. 1, By the will of the sovereign ; 2, By the death of the sovereign; and 3, By length of time. Q. Does a dissolution of parliament take place immediately on the death of the sovereign? A. No; the parliament in being continues for six months after the death of the king or queen, unless sooner dissolved by the succeeding sovereign. Q. When will a parliament come to an end by length of time? A. At the end of seven years from its commencement. Q. By whom is parliament summoned or called together? A. By the sovereign. Q. What is an adjournment of parliament ? A. An adjournment is a continuance of the session, or sitting of parliament, from one day to another. Q. How is it effected? A. By the authority of each house separately, for the adjournment of one house is no adjournment of the other. Q. What is a prorogation of parliament? A. A prorogation is the continuance of the parliament from one session to another, as the adjournment is the continuance of the session from day to day. Q. How is a prorogation effected? A. By the authority of the sovereign. Both houses are prorogued at the same time. Q. Has the house of commons any privilege relative to the laying on of taxes? A. Yes; it has the exclusive privilege and right of originating all measures that relate to the imposition of taxes. Q. For what purpose are taxes raised? A. For paying the interest on the national debt, the expenses of the sovereign, of the army and navy, and other expenses relative to carrying on the government of the country. Q. What is the national debt? A. The national debt is a debt which |