Frontbencher

In many parliaments and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with each political party or caucus grouped together. 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 backbenchers. Independent and minority parties sit to the side, and are referred to as crossbenchers.

Britain

In the British 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 or the Lord Speaker), and is occupied by Government ministers. The opposition frontbench is occupied by shadow ministers, of which the most senior form the Shadow Cabinet.

Canada

While backbenchers are referred to in the Canadian House of Commons (and the provincial legislatures), the front seats on the government side are reserved for cabinet ministers. Front row members 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).

Front bench (Ireland)

A front bench in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of 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 constitutes the government front bench, while the members of parties in declared opposition to the government constitute the opposition front bench.

Third parties (those who may not be in government or opposition) may only form front benches with the power to speak or be recognised by the Ceann Comhairle if such parties number at least seven TDs. In order to attain the right to speak in session, parties and independents can ally themselves into coalitions known as technical groups of at least 7 TDs. An analogous term in other Westminster-based systems is the cross bench (as opposed to the front bench or back bench).

Despite the frequent necessity for coalitions in front benches, each party retains its own front bench spokespersons analogous (but not exclusively analogous) to government departments. When a smaller party is participant in a coalition, its own party front bench is semi-subservient to the coalition's agreed-upon front bench roster.