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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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guillotine
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A procedural device, in occasional use since the early 20C, by which the government can speed up the passage of legislation through the House of *Commons. A guillotine motion is passed, in advance of a bill being debated, which allots a maximum number of days to each stage on the bill's way to becoming an *act of parliament. When the time limit on any stage is reached, debate is abruptly cut off.
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