Hemicycle

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(Redirected from
Hemicycle (chamber)
)
This article is about the parliamentary arrangement. For the geometric term, see Semicircle. For the structure at Arlington National Cemetery, see Women in Military Service for America Memorial.
Athenian Ecclesia
, around the 4th century BCE

A hemicycle is a

debating chamber where members sit to discuss and vote on their business. Although originally of Ancient Greek roots, the term and modern design derive from French politics and practice.[1]

Usage

The circular shape is designed to encourage consensus among

political parties rather than confrontation, such as in the Palace of Westminster, where the government and opposition parties face each other on opposing sets of benches. The design is used in most European countries (and hence was adopted by the European Parliament
) and the United States.

The

Senedd (Welsh Parliament), do, while the Northern Ireland Assembly
is a hybrid "horseshoe" format.

Arrangement

In the case of Australia (pictured below), the two largest parties still face each other, whereas in the Scottish Parliament's hemicycle, the largest party sits in the middle. However, some hemicycles follow a strict left-right arrangement with, for example, a left wing governing party sitting on the left and the right wing opposition on the right. In these cases election results are often portrayed in the hemicycle to show the results of left wing or right wing coalitions (reaching 50% in the centre, where centrist third parties are located) for the formation of a majority.

Variations

Some

People's Republic of China
, have a single set of benches facing towards a stage area (which reflects the one-party system in operation there).

Gallery

  • Toronto City Council chambers
    Toronto City Council chambers
  • Hong Kong Legco chambers
    Hong Kong Legco chambers
  • The French National Assembly in 1877; it entrenched the left-right political spectrum of its chamber in modern politics.
    The
    left-right political spectrum
    of its chamber in modern politics.
  • The European Parliament in 2006, began operating in a hemicycle from its foundation in 1958, based on European traditions
    The European Parliament in 2006, began operating in a hemicycle from its foundation in 1958, based on European traditions
  • The Toledo Museum of Art once contained a performance space called the Hemicycle, seen here in 1912
    The Toledo Museum of Art once contained a performance space called the Hemicycle, seen here in 1912
  • Parliament of Sweden
    Parliament of Sweden
  • National Assembly of Venezuela
    National Assembly of Venezuela
  • Graphical representation of the left-right spread of members in the 2009 European Parliament
    Graphical representation
    of the left-right spread of members in the 2009 European Parliament

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hemicycles.
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Hemicycle".

References

  1. ^ "Hemicycle Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster".
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