More Parliamentary questions from a Yank

[jonatha]

So the Speaker calls for the ayes and nays and if there is not a clear majority either way (in his estimation, I believe, although I assume if a member doesn't like his judgment the member can call for the equivalent of a roll call vote) he shouts "division" in his inimitable voice and almost everybody files out of the House.

After almost everybody is gone, he repeats the process (including the question) and the few members left in the house split and he calls for division again (at least I think he did) and names four members (two from the government party and two from the - I suppose largest - opposition party) to count the ayes and nays (one member from each party for each count).

Why not just name the counters after the first division? Why does he call for another vote?

 

[Gun Nut]

So the Speaker calls for the ayes and nays and if there is not a clear majority either way (in his estimation, I believe, although I assume if a member doesn't like his judgment the member can call for the equivalent of a roll call vote) he shouts "division" in his inimitable voice and almost everybody files out of the House.

After almost everybody is gone, he repeats the process (including the question) and the few members left in the house split and he calls for division again (at least I think he did) and names four members (two from the government party and two from the - I suppose largest - opposition party) to count the ayes and nays (one member from each party for each count).

Why not just name the counters after the first division? Why does he call for another vote?

It is where the term "The Division Bell" came from. When one calls for "Division", a bell is rung throughout the building indicating a vote is about to commence... it is a way to call in all members to take the vote. If people run out of the room, it is either because they know they have a 5 minute break or whatever before the vote.. or to help gather more members.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Why don't they just press a button that registers their vote or something. Doing it by voice seems somewhat trite.