Division bell

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This article is about the bell that is rung in certain Legislatures. For the Pink Floyd album, see The Division Bell.

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A division bell is a bell rung in or around a parliament to signal a division and thus call all members of the chamber so affected to vote in it.

[edit] In the United Kingdom

The bell is used in the local neighbourhood of the Parliament to signal a division is occurring and that members in the Commons or in the House of Lords have about eight minutes to get to the appropriate Division Lobby to vote for or against the resolution. The call for a Division is also displayed on the Annunciator screens throughout the Parliamentary buildings.

Because of the time allowance MPs may, in fact, be in nearby offices, restaurants, pubs or shops, some of which will have their own Division Bells connected to those within the confines of the Parliament's buildings, others will use a system of pagers co-ordinated by the Whip's office of each party.

The headquarters of the major parties are all within the reach of the division bell and this area roughly defines the geographical limits of the Westminster Bubble.

[edit] In Australia

In Australia the legislature's buildings all have division bells. In addition, the clocks have little lights that will signal a division and which house it is in.