Editing Frontbencher

{{Short description|Senior member of parliament}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Party politics}}

In many [[parliament]]s and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with each [[political party]] or [[caucus]] grouped together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/frontbench-frontbencher/|title=Frontbench (frontbenchers) - Glossary page|website=UK Parliament|language=English|access-date=2020-02-28}}</ref> The [[spokespeople]] for each group will often sit at the front of their group, and are then known as being on the '''frontbench''' (or '''front bench''') and are described as frontbenchers.  Those sitting behind them are known as [[backbencher]]s. Independent and minority parties sit to the side or on benches between the two sides, and are referred to as [[crossbencher]]s. Frontbenchers may be part of a [[Frontbench Team]] with other members of their political party.

==United Kingdom==
[[File:Ed Miliband PMQs.png|thumb|The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] frontbench in 2012: [[Ed Miliband]] ([[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]]) flanked by [[Ed Balls]] ([[Shadow Chancellor]]) and [[Harriet Harman]] ([[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Deputy Leader of the Opposition]] and [[Shadow Deputy Prime Minister]])]]
In the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], the [[Government]] frontbench is traditionally called the Treasury bench ([[HM Treasury]] is the oldest government department). The government frontbench is on the right hand side as seen by the Chairman (typically the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] or the [[Lord Speaker]]), and is occupied by Government [[Minister (government)|minister]]s.  The [[opposition frontbench]] is occupied by ''shadow'' ministers, of whom the most senior form the [[Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom)|Shadow Cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britpolitics.co.uk/a-level-uk-parliament-british-politics-front-back-bench/|title=What's the difference between UK frontbench and backbench MPs?|website=Britpolitics|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-28}}</ref>

==Canada==
While backbenchers are referred to in the [[House of Commons of Canada]] (and the provincial legislatures), the front seats on the government side are reserved for cabinet ministers. Front row members of the governing party are not referred to as frontbenchers, but as cabinet ministers. Some "frontbenchers" actually sit in the centre of the second row, so as to be seen directly behind the party leader during Question Period (and thus, in the television frame).

The same arrangement exists for each [[Legislative assemblies of Canadian provinces and territories|provincial legislature and the territorial legislature of Yukon]]. In the case of [[Legislative Assembly of Nunavut|Nunavut]] and [[Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories|Northwest Territories]] where there is [[Consensus government in Canada|consensus government]] with a non-partisan makeup,  ministers sit amongst regular members.

==Ireland==
A [[front bench (Ireland)|front bench]] in [[Dáil Éireann]], the [[lower house]] of the [[Oireachtas]] of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], refers to any organised group of party members who holds any degree of speaking power (derived from the party) on specific issues. The [[Teachtaí Dála]] (TDs) who are members of the [[Government of Ireland]] constitute the government front bench, while the members of parties in declared opposition to the government constitute the opposition front bench.

== Australia ==
The [[Parliament of Australia]] has a front bench, and all ministers and shadow ministers are government or opposition frontbenchers, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frontbenchers and backbenchers |url=https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/parliament-and-its-people/people-in-parliament/frontbenchers-and-backbenchers/ |website=Parliamentary Education Office |access-date=9 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The term is also used for state and territory governments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A guide to member roles and terms |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/how-parliament-works/people-in-parliament/member-roles/ |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=Parliament of Victoria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Glossary of Terms |url=https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/en/About-Parliament/Glossary-of-Terms#ff |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=Parliament South Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Glossary of parliamentary terms |url=https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/visit-and-learn/learn/resources/fs/glossary#f |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory}}</ref>

== New Zealand ==
New Zealand follows the [[Westminster system|Westminster tradition]] whereby the front benches, or in the [[New Zealand House of Representatives]] front ''seats'', are reserved for the government and opposition leaders. The government ministers sit to the [[Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives|Speaker's]] right, whilst the opposition leaders sit to the Speaker's left (as seen from the Speaker's chair). The term frontbencher is therefore also used in New Zealand but usually refers to the foremost leaders and spokespersons of the [[Official Opposition (New Zealand)|Official Opposition]] rather than those on the government front benches.

== See also ==
* [[Backbencher]]
* [[Frontbench Team]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/82153.stm Frontbench] definition from [[BBC News]]

[[Category:Legislatures]]
[[Category:Parliament of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organizational structure of political parties]]