File classification block 50 is concerned with House of Commons matters, such as structure and the management of House committees. Included in the sub-sub-series is an important three-file record on the Committee Study of 1972, a stepping stone to significant reform of the House Committee structure and Operations which occurred under Allan J. MacEachen. Also, there are files on briefs to Cabinet, House protocol, the legislative program and parliamentary associations.
This unit directly reflects MacEachen's activities as President of the Privy Council. His main tasks were to assure the smooth operation of the House of Commons on behalf of the ruling Liberal government - to prepare legislation to present to the House, to assure its passage, and to keep the House functioning efficiently and effectively. That meant review and reform of House operations (procedures, rules, question period and so on), and perhaps more significantly timely and effective functioning of the Committee system for the study of bills and their movement through various stages. There was a political aspect to this activity as well, in, for example, negotiating with other Party leaders regarding the House agenda, motions and question period. As important politically, MacEachen had to keep the Liberal MPs in line, which he could do not only in his capacity as President of the Privy Council, but also as Leader of the Liberal Party in the House and Government House Leader as well.
There are significant file blocks in this sub-sub-series on the Liberal Caucus, the Atlantic Caucus and the Caucus Communications Committee, files which demonstrate the politics behind legislation. The bulk of this sub-sub-series, however, shows the workings of the House under MacEachen. There are files on House attendance, members' emoluments (allowances, salaries and pensions), notices of motions, standing orders, briefs and submissions, questions, dealing with the Speaker and so on. There is a significant run of files on the Government's legislative program and Legislation and House planning. A staggeringly large number of files, approximately 130, reflect the staging of various bills through committees and the House. The matter of Committee reform is well-represented here, with files dealing with House Committees and reform of the committees to expedite the work of the House.
