OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE. 139 
General that the House has “elected him to be their 
Speaker.” The choice of the Speaker is not “confirmed” 
and “approved” by the Governor-General, as it is by 
the Crown in England. Up to 1840 the election of the 
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in both Upper and 
Lower Canada was always “approved” by the Governor. 
but such approval is not essential *. 
When a Speaker dies or resigns during a prorogation, 
the House of Commons at the opening of the next Session 
adopts the English practice of proceeding to the Senate 
Chamber and asking the authority of the Governor-General 
to proceed to the election of a Speaker according to law® 
The duties of the Speaker are prescribed by Standing Duties of 
Orders, by the customs of the House, and by English pre- Spealcer. 
cedents. 
He presides over all meetings of the House °, and receives 
and puts all motions. He communicates to the House all 
messages received from the Governor-General or from the 
Senate. If necessary he reprimands members and under the 
instructions of the House commits persons to the custody of 
the Sergeant at Arms. He decides points of order, subject 
to an appeal to the House, and enforces all rules, and is the 
official mouthpiece of the House when an address is presented 
to the Crown or to the Governor-General. 
If the Speaker from any cause finds it necessary to leave Absence of 
the Chair, he may call upon the Chairman of Committees, or Spoken 
in his absence, upon any member, to take the Chair during 
the remainder of the day*. 
If the Speaker is unavoidably absent the Chairman of 
Committees acts as Deputy Speaker? 
The Clerk of the House is appointed by Commission The 
under the Great Seal to hold office during pleasure. He “™* 
1 See ante p. 114. ? Burinot, p. 163. 3 B. N. A. Act, 1867, s."46. 
+t R.S.C.c. 14, 8. 1. & Ib, 8. 2.