The office

How Speakers are elected in Westminster systems

In parliaments on the Westminster model, the chamber elects its own Speaker, usually as its first business after a general election.

• Section 35 of Australia's Constitution requires the House of Representatives to choose a Speaker before proceeding to any other business.³
• The UK House of Commons elects its Speaker by a secret ballot of MPs at the start of a new Parliament or when the office falls vacant.¹
• A sitting UK Speaker who seeks re-election after a general election can be reappointed by a motion passed by a majority of MPs, without a secret ballot.¹
• In May 2025 Canada's House of Commons elected its Speaker by preferential secret ballot, run by the longest serving MP.⁴
• Under Article 94 of India's Constitution, the Speaker does not vacate office on dissolution until immediately before the first meeting of the new House.⁵
• The UK Lord Speaker is elected by members of the House of Lords using the alternative vote, for up to five years and at most two terms.²

Sources

1. Institute for Government, Speaker of the House of Commons (explainer) (10 January 2019)
2. Institute for Government, Lord Speaker (explainer) (2 February 2026)
3. Constitute Project, Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (rev. 1985) (Constitute Project)
4. The Canadian Press via CJME, Quebec MP Francis Scarpaleggia elected as new House of Commons Speaker (The Canadian Press) (26 May 2025)
5. Constitute Project, Constitution of India (rev. 2016) (Constitute Project)