Backbenchers are used not only to allocate spatial places in parliamentary places, but also places in party hierarchies. Backbenchers are occupied by rank-and-file members who are low in the political order. First-term lawmakers, independents and party rebels often find themselves in the ranks of backbenchers. These figures are relegated to the back ranks, while party leaders and ministers occupy the first benches. BBC: «Backbenchers are sometimes called private members, so a backbencher can present an original idea for a bill in the form of a private member`s bill. Backbenchers have more freedom of expression because they are not limited by their loyalty to the government. It can also cause problems for party whips trying to impose party discipline. The DCHP placed the first uses of backbenchers in American politics in the 1920s. Google`s Ngram Viewer confirms this timeline with a steady increase in usage from 1936 to 1970. This trend could be due to the proximity of relations between England and the United States. In truth, during the Reagan years, Gingrich was a backbencher who, in addition to the Democrats, also dropped bombs on the White House. In other words, Greene`s position as the new backbencher in the House of Representatives should soften the attention she receives.

In many parliaments and other similar assemblies, seats are usually arranged in banks or rows, with each political party or faction grouped together. [1] Speakers from each group often sit at the top of their group and are then called leading MPs (or first benches) and described as leading MEPs. Those who sit behind them are known as backbenchers. Independent and minority parties sit next to or on benches between the two parties and are called crossbenchers. Backbenchers also have informal agenda-setting power, with opposition day debates, private membership bills, and Questions from the Prime Minister to put items on Parliament`s agenda that are uncomfortable for the government. The Wright Committee reforms introduced in the UK gave backbenchers much more power in committees, gave Parliament greater control over its agenda, and dramatically increased the number of backbenchers on committees. [10] This fact sheet describes the role of a typical backbencher in the House of Representatives – a member who does not hold a parliamentary or party position.1 The term «backbencher» refers to the member`s sitting position in the House Chamber, where the first bench is occupied by ministers and shadow ministers. It is generally argued that backbenchers have three main tasks to perform: the term «backbencher» has also been adopted outside of parliamentary systems such as the United States Congress. Although the legislature in presidential systems does not share the fixed dichotomy between the front bank and the backbench of the Westminster system, the term has been used to refer to subordinate legislators or legislators who are not part of the party leadership within a legislature. [7] When Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan challenged Nancy Pelosi of California as minority leader in the House of Representatives in 2016, the Washington Post reported that he «came out of the backbench — he`s literally sitting on the last bench in the house.» [8] This fact sheet examines the work of prominent MPs (MPs sitting on the front seats of the Senate or House of Representatives) and backbenchers (MPs sitting in the rows of seats behind the front bench).

While backbenchers are mentioned in the Canadian House of Commons (and in provincial legislatures), prominent seats on the government side are reserved for ministers. Members of the ruling party in the front row are not called leading MPs, but ministers. Some «top MPs» actually sit in the middle of the second row to see directly behind the party chairman during Question Time (and thus in the TV image). In most parliamentary systems, backbenchers have little power to influence government policy. However, they play a more important role in the work of the legislator himself; for example, sitting on parliamentary committees, where legislation is reviewed and parliamentary work is done in more detail than there is time in plenary. [5] Given that backbenchers typically make up the vast majority of government MPs – and even their totality in dualistic parliamentary systems where ministers cannot simultaneously serve as MPs – together they can sometimes wield considerable power, particularly in cases where government policies are unpopular or where a ruling party or coalition is divided internally. Backbenchers have considerable influence when the government majority is small; For example, Ariel Sharon`s second government`s plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip has often been hampered by backbenchers from the two junior partners in the right-wing coalition (such as Mafdal and the National Union) and dissidents from Sharon`s Likud party. Although internal dissidents within Likud expelled Sharon and his party supporters in late 2005, the Sharon-led Kadima party, which resulted from the breakup, retained control of the government and won the 2006 elections.