backbenches
Seats without portfolios
The backbenches are the seats in a parliament occupied by rank-and-file members rather than government ministers or opposition leaders, who sit on the front benches.
By extension, the backbenches refers to these ordinary legislators collectively: She spent years on the backbenches before joining the cabinet.
A backbencher has less power but more freedom to vote independently.
Flexible striking instruments
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- debateFormal argument on issues
- amendmentsFormal changes to documents
- committeesGroups delegated specific duties
caucus · quorum · bills · sessions · parliamentary · proceedings · speaker · majority
Disagreement with authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- mutinyRevolt against authority
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
rebels · mavericks · independence · defectors · breakaway · insurgents · dissenters · abstention
Unknown identity state
- sidelinedRemoved from participation
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- overshadowedSurpassed and diminished
- unrecognizedNot identified or acknowledged
marginalized · periphery · rank-and-file · voiceless · powerless · underappreciated · backwater · irrelevance
whips
Flexible striking instruments
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- debateFormal argument on issues
- amendmentsFormal changes to documents
committees · caucus · quorum · bills · sessions · parliamentary · proceedings · speaker · majority · minority
dissent
Disagreement with authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- mutinyRevolt against authority
uprising · rebels · mavericks · independence · defectors · breakaway · insurgents · dissenters · abstention
anonymity
Unknown identity state
- sidelinedRemoved from participation
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- overshadowedSurpassed and diminished
unrecognized · marginalized · periphery · rank-and-file · voiceless · powerless · underappreciated · backwater · irrelevance · invisible
rising
Act of ascending
- aspirantsThose seeking advancement
- up-and-comingLikely to succeed soon
- promotionRank increase or publicity
emerging · budding · prospects · talent · ambitious · career · ministerial
- Parliament roomsHouse of Commons, House of Lords, Senate chamber, assembly hall, Bundestag
backbenchesfrontbenches
Senior MPs' seats
front bench · cabinet · shadow cabinet · party leadership · leadership
backbenchescabinet
Enclosed storage furniture
ministry · executive · government · inner circle · leadership