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backbench
DCHP-2 (Jul 2016)
Spelling variants:back bench, back-bench
1n. — Politics
a seat occupied by a member of a legislative assembly who is neither a cabinet member nor an opposition critic.
Type: 2. Preservation — Backbench is a preservation from British English, where the term has been used since the early 19th century in the British parliamentary system. As demonstrated in Chart 1, the term is also in use in other former British colonies. Backbench is found in the US, for instance, sometimes in reference to new Congress members (see Gage-5, s.v. "back-bench" [2]).
See also COD-2, s.v. "backbench" (1), which is marked "Cdn, Brit., Austral. & NZ", and ITP Nelson, s.v. "back-bench" (1), which is marked "Chiefly Canadian & British".
See also COD-2, s.v. "backbench" (1), which is marked "Cdn, Brit., Austral. & NZ", and ITP Nelson, s.v. "back-bench" (1), which is marked "Chiefly Canadian & British".
See: backbencher
Quotations
1931
All Members of Parliament from the Primer Minister and Leader of the Opposition down to the newest and most bashful member who sits tongue tied on a back bench are agreed that the position of the country calls for remedial measures and all sincere in desiring to bring about betterments.
1951
Mr. Dunbar got to his feet and pointed across to the Windsor member in the opposition back benches.
1971
The assignments of seats within a party is a decision made by the party leader and whether an MPP is placed on the front or back bench is not just a matter of pride.
2007
I think Canadians give our prime minister too much power, when you consider that he has his finger prints on just about everything that goes on in government. All the MPs who sit in the back benches should be able to vote the wishes of their constituents and take part fully in governing our country instead of doing what they are told to do. After all, the PM is elected by constituents, the same as every MP.
2n. & adj. — Politics
the group of people who occupy the backbench; often in a compound, as in back bench member.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — Meaning 2 is, in contrast to meaning 1, probably not a preservation from British English, as attestations in this attributive or compound form appear later in the London Times (1909) than in Canadian sources (see the 1879 quotation). There is some reason to cautiously suggest, in line with other 19th century evidence (e.g. Dollinger 2015a: 33-38, Brinton 2015: 31-32), that the attributive use is a North American, perhaps even a Canadian, innovation. A Type 3 - Semantic Change is plausible, from its nominal to adjectival meanings; see e.g. the 19th century quotes, as well as its metonymical use (i.e. the backbench stands for the members sitting on it, see, e.g., the 1993 quotation).
See also COD-2, s.v. "backbench" (3), which is marked "Cdn, Brit., Austral., & NZ".
See also COD-2, s.v. "backbench" (3), which is marked "Cdn, Brit., Austral., & NZ".
Quotations
1879
Since that time, however, the party had been in power, and looked with great contempt upon the back-bench members, though they should know that all could not occupy the front benches, and that the elections on the 17th September last so reduced their number that they could all have front benches, or be assembled round the table [...]
1891
You see, you were merely a back-bench member, and of comparatively little importance to the Government.
1928
Back-bench Conservatives have searched the country for evidence to discredit the Government, even to the extent of maligning the country. The public is less concerned with the fate of any party than with the fate of the Dominion, and there is poor spirit and patriotism in the misrepresentation of conditions for the sake of hitting at a political opponent.
1952
But whatever the reason, the fact remains that the present rebellion among the Conservative back-bench MPs is just as dramatic as anything that has occurred inside the Labour Party. Indeed, in one respect it is much more dramatic, for it is in part a revolt against Mr. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party [...]
1975
Mr. Nixon answered that if Mr. Davis is going to "campaign on that basis," he should "make the statements himself and not relegate them to one of his backbench members." He said Mr. Davis is "hiding behind the skirts" of Mrs. Scrivener.
1993
"She sets the standard - deciding which cases will be fought, and which cases will be supported, or left alone. Therefore it is Ms. Campbell, not her back bench, who must accept responsibility for denying basic human rights and equality for men and women who are gay and lesbian."
2005
Down east, civil war is brewing within the Liberal party. Inside Parliament, the government back bench is divided over gay marriage. Paul Martin began the week threatening an election on the issue, and ended up retreating when the extent of the rift became evident.
2016
And then there is the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups. Parliament Hill is crawling with folks trying to find any point of leverage to influence a particular initiative. And although it is common for these folks to try to sway the backbench, they also recognize that government MPs ultimately have to vote with the government. Not anymore.
References
- Gage-5
- ITP Nelson
- Dollinger (2015a)
- Brinton (2015)
- COD-2
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