<P> Before the House votes on any issue, the Speaker "puts the question"; that is, he or she orally states the motion on which the members are to vote . He or she then assesses the result of a voice vote, but any member may demand a division (a recorded vote). The Speaker may overrule a request for a division and maintain the original ruling; this power, however, is used only rarely, usually when members make frivolous requests for divisions in order to delay proceedings . </P> <P> The Speaker does not vote in the division, except when the Ayes and Noes are tied, in which case he or she must use the casting vote . In exercising the casting vote, the Speaker may theoretically vote as he or she pleases, but, in practice, always votes in accordance with certain unwritten conventions, such as Speaker Denison's rule . First, the Speaker votes to give the House further opportunity to debate a bill or motion before reaching a final decision . (For example, the Speaker would be obliged to vote against a closure motion .) Secondly, any final decision should be approved by the majority . (Thus, for instance, the Speaker would vote against the final passage of a bill .) Finally, the Speaker should vote to leave a bill or motion in its existing form; in other words, the Speaker would vote against an amendment . </P> <P> Since the House of Commons is a very large body, Speakers are rarely called upon to use the casting vote . Since 1801, there have been only 49 instances of tied divisions . The last tied votes were on 30 January 1980, when the House divided 201 - 201 on a motion to grant leave to bring the Televising of Parliament Bill (the then Deputy Speaker Bernard Weatherill voted Aye) and on 21 June 1990, 197--197 on an Amendment of Law Relating to Termination of Pregnancy (the Deputy Speaker Sir Paul Dean voted No). There was believed to be a 317--317 vote on an amendment to a motion concerning the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, but it was quickly discovered that one extra "Aye" vote had been erroneously counted . Prior to the counting error having been noted, Speaker Betty Boothroyd did give a Casting Vote of No, although this was later expunged when the error became clear . </P> <P> In addition to his or her role as presiding officer, the Speaker performs several other functions on the behalf of the House of Commons . He or she represents the body in relations with the Sovereign, the House of Lords, and non-parliamentary bodies . On important occasions of state (such as Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee in 2002), the Speaker presents Addresses to the Crown on behalf of the House . </P>

Speaker of the house england not allowed to speak