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In manyparliaments and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with eachpolitical party orcaucus grouped together.[1] Thespokespeople for each group will often sit at the front of their group, and are then known as being on thefrontbench (orfront bench) and are described as frontbenchers. Those sitting behind them are known asbackbenchers. Independent and minority parties sit to the side or on benches between the two sides, and are referred to ascrossbenchers. Frontbenchers may be part of aFrontbench Team with other members of their political party.
In theHouse of Commons, theGovernment frontbench is traditionally called the Treasury bench (HM Treasury is the oldest government department). The government frontbench is on the right hand side as seen by the Chairman (typically theSpeaker of the House of Commons or theLord Speaker), and is occupied by Governmentministers. Theopposition frontbench is occupied byshadow ministers, of whom the most senior form theShadow Cabinet.[2]
While backbenchers are referred to in theHouse of Commons of Canada (and the provincial legislatures), the front seats on the government side are reserved for cabinet ministers. Front row members of the governing party are not referred to as frontbenchers, but as cabinet ministers. Some "frontbenchers" actually sit in the centre of the second row, so as to be seen directly behind the party leader during Question Period (and thus, in the television frame).
The same arrangement exists for eachprovincial legislature and the territorial legislature of Yukon. In the case ofNunavut andNorthwest Territories where there isconsensus government with a non-partisan makeup, ministers sit amongst regular members.
Afront bench inDáil Éireann, thelower house of theOireachtas ofIreland, refers to any organised group of party members who holds any degree of speaking power (derived from the party) on specific issues. TheTeachtaí Dála (TDs) who are members of theGovernment of Ireland constitute the government front bench, while the members of parties in declared opposition to the government constitute the opposition front bench.
TheParliament of Australia also has a front bench, which includes all ministers and shadow ministers.[3][4]
In more recent times, journalists have casually referred to ministers as frontbenchers[5][6] rather than expressing the due deference of their ministerial positions.
New Zealand follows theWestminster tradition whereby the front benches, or in theNew Zealand House of Representatives frontseats, are reserved for the government and opposition leaders. The government ministers sit to theSpeaker's right, whilst the opposition leaders sit to the Speaker's left (as seen from the Speaker's chair). The term frontbencher is therefore also used in New Zealand but usually refers to the foremost leaders and spokespersons of theOfficial Opposition rather than those on the government front benches.
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