Editing Westminster system (section)

==Ceremonies==
The Westminster system has a very distinct appearance when functioning, with many British customs incorporated into day-to-day government function. A Westminster-style parliament is usually a long, rectangular room, with two rows of seats and desks on either side. Many chambers connect the opposing rows, either with a perpendicular row of seats and desks at the furthermost point from the Speaker's Chair at the opposite end of the chamber (e.g. UK House of Lords or Israel Knesset) or the rows of chairs and desks are rounded at the end, opposite to the Speaker's Chair (e.g. Australian chambers, Ireland, South Africa, India). The chairs in which both the government and opposition sit, are positioned so that the two rows are facing each other. This arrangement is said to have derived from an early Parliament which was held in a [[Church (building)|church]] [[Choir (architecture)|choir]]. Traditionally, the opposition parties will sit in one row of seats, and the government party will sit in the other. In some countries, the mace will face the government’s side whilst lying on the [[table of the House]]. In most [[Majority government|majority governments]], the number of government-party MPs is so large that it must use the "opposition" seats as well. In the lower house at Westminster (the UK's House of Commons) there are lines on the floor in front of the government and opposition benches that members may cross only when exiting the chamber. 

At one end of the room sits a large chair, for the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House]]. The speaker usually wears black robes, and in some countries, a [[Wig (hair)|wig]]. Robed parliamentary [[Clerk (legislature)|clerks]] often sit at narrow tables between the two rows of seats, as well. These narrow tables in the centre of the chamber, is usually where ministers or members of the house come to speak. A newly elected Speaker is symbolically dragged to the Chair upon being elected.  

Other ceremonies sometimes associated with the Westminster system include an annual [[Speech from the Throne]] (or equivalent thereof) in which the head of state gives a special address (written by the government) to parliament about what kind of policies to expect in the coming year, and lengthy [[State Opening of Parliament]] ceremonies that often involve the presentation of a large [[ceremonial mace]]. Some legislatures retain Westminster's colour-coded chambers, with the upper houses associated with the colour red (after the House of Lords) and the lower with green (after the House of Commons). This is the case in India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Barbados.