House of Commons

History and naming

The House of Commons of the Kingdom of England evolved from an undivided parliament to serve as the voice of the tax-paying subjects of the counties and the boroughs. Knights of the shire, elected from each county, were usually landowners, while the borough members were often from the merchant classes. These members represented subjects of the Crown who were not Lords Temporal or Spiritual, who themselves sat in the House of Lords. The House of Commons gained its name because it represented communities (communes).

From the Middle Ages until the early 20th century the suffrage was limited in various ways, typically to some male property-owners; in 1780 just 3% of the population could vote. Since the 19th century, the British and Canadian Houses of Commons have become increasingly representative (see Reform Acts), as suffrage has been extended. Both bodies are now elected via universal adult suffrage.

Specific bodies

British Isles

Westminster

• Kingdom of England: the House of Commons of England (met at the Palace of Westminster, London) sat from 1295 to 1706
• Kingdom of Great Britain: the House of Commons of Great Britain (at the Palace of Westminster) 1707 to 1801
• The House of Commons of the United Kingdom (at the Palace of Westminster) since 1801

Dublin

• Kingdom of Ireland: House of Commons of Ireland (at various locations in Dublin: Dublin Castle, Bluecoat School, Irish Parliament House) 1297 to 1801
• Southern Ireland: House of Commons of Southern Ireland (at Government Buildings, Dublin) 1921 to 1922

Belfast

• Northern Ireland: House of Commons of Northern Ireland (at Parliament Buildings (Stormont), Belfast) 1921 to 1972

Canada

• The House of Commons of Canada on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario since 1867

United States

• The lower house of the General Assembly of North Carolina was also known as the House of Commons between 1760 and 1868, when it was renamed the House of Representatives.

References

References

1. [[A. F. Pollard]], ''The Evolution of Parliament'' (Longmans, 1920), 107–08.
2. "The Struggle for Democracy: Getting the vote – Voting rights before 1832".
3. Johnston, Neil. (2013). "The History of the Parliamentary Franchise". House of Commons Library.
4. Briggs, Asa ''The Age of Improvement 1783-1867'' (1959)
5. Woodward, Llewellan. ''The Age of Reform, 1815–1870'' (2nd ed. 1961)