Pabliament

s The supreme legisla- ' ture of Great Britain, consisting of the queen, or king, the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons. Assembles, at the queen's summons, at least once in three years. Each constituent has a negative in making laws. The powers ate absolute. Each house judges of its own privileges. Members are entitled to the privileges of speech, person, domestics, and property. The distinctive duties of the house of lords are to sit as a court of review, and to mature bills affecting the peerage. The distinctive duties of the house of commons are to impose taxes, to vote money for the public service, and to determine matters concerning the election of its members. Bills are read twice in each house, committed, engrossed, and then read a third time. Concurrence in the three branches makes a bill a law. The houses may " adjourn " themselves; but the queen alone can "prorogue" (postpone) or " dissolve " parliament.' See Contempt, 2; House, 2;