back bench
Legislators' rear seating
Back bench refers to the seats in a parliament occupied by rank-and-file members who hold no ministerial or leadership positions.
A backbencher has less power and visibility than frontbenchers—cabinet ministers and shadow cabinet members who sit at the front.
The term extends to any subordinate position: He spent years on the back bench before getting a committee assignment.
Elected parliamentary representative
- legislatorElected maker of laws
- commonsShared community resources
- lordsMen of high rank
- whipStrikes or aerates
debate · bill · motion · amendment · committee · division · lobby · session
Inexperienced beginners in profession
- newcomersThose recently arrived
- freshersNew intake students
- juniorsLower-ranked members
- apprenticesNovices learning a craft
trainees · greenhorns · neophytes · fledglings · recruits · probationers · understudies · reserves
Unknown identity state
- low-profileDeliberately avoiding attention
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- unnoticedNot perceived by anyone
- sidelinedRemoved from participation
peripheral · marginalized · overshadowed · unrecognized · rank-and-file · unremarkable · inconspicuous · backwater
Open-air spectator benches
- grandstandTiered spectator seating structure
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- peanut galleryCheapest theater seating area
- sidelinesField boundary lines
nosebleeds · cheap seats · observers · onlookers · bystanders · audience · viewers · ringside
MP
Elected parliamentary representative
- legislatorElected maker of laws
- commonsShared community resources
- lordsMen of high rank
whip · debate · bill · motion · amendment · committee · division · lobby · session · question
rookies
Inexperienced beginners in profession
apprentices · trainees · greenhorns · neophytes · fledglings · recruits · probationers · understudies · reserves · second-string
anonymity
Unknown identity state
- low-profileDeliberately avoiding attention
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- unnoticedNot perceived by anyone
sidelined · peripheral · marginalized · overshadowed · unrecognized · rank-and-file · unremarkable · inconspicuous · backwater · relegated
bleachers
Open-air spectator benches
- grandstandTiered spectator seating structure
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- peanut galleryCheapest theater seating area
sidelines · nosebleeds · cheap seats · observers · onlookers · bystanders · audience · viewers · ringside · standing room
- parliament seatingcrossbench, hemicycle, tiered seating, dispatch box, assigned seats
back benchfront bench
Senior parliamentarians' seats
cabinet · shadow cabinet · leadership · executive · ministry
back benchfront bench
Senior parliamentarians' seats
cabinet · leadership · prime minister · party leader · senior minister