It is placed in the middle of the House between the front benches. When Parliament is sitting, the Mace is placed on brackets located on one end of the Table. Lecterns are provided along each side of the Table where Members from the front benches make their speeches.²⁷ Papers presented to the House are ordered to lie upon this Table. S.O. 31.

Elected Members, including Non-Constituency Members, retain their seats until the dissolution of the Parliament. Nominated Members are appointed for a fixed term of two and a half years or until the dissolution of Parliament, whichever is earlier.²⁸ (See also Dissolution of Parliament) Art 46 and Fourth Schedule of the CRS

(See Passage of a Bill)

Every Bill has a short and a long title. The Bill is commonly referred to by its short title, for example, “Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Bill”. The short title is read out by the Clerk at the Table at each reading. The long title is a statement setting out its purpose or object, for example, “An Act to declare and define the privileges, immunities and powers of Parliament and of the Speaker, Members and committees thereof, to regulate the conduct of Members and other persons in connection with the proceedings thereof, to give protection to persons employed in the publication of the reports and other papers of Parliament and for purposes incidental to or connected with the matters aforesaid.” S.O. 67(2).