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Prior to 1926, a successful ministerial by-election was required for members of the British House of Commons (pictured) to regain their seats after being made ministers. This requirement originated from 17th-century ideas of parliamentary independence from the Crown, which appoints the ministers; while early attempts were made to fully separate ministers and Parliament in a manner similar to that of the future United States, a compromise was reached instead to merely require new ministers to face a by-election to join Parliament. This by-election was in practice usually, but not always, an uncontested formality, and was gradually reformed before finally being abolished in 1926. Ministerial by-elections spread to British colonies in modern-day Canada and Australia, where they were likewise all abolished by the mid-20th century, ending with Western Australia in 1947; in Canada, they played a major role in the 1926 King–Byng affair before being abolished federally in 1931. (Full article...)
Did you know ...
- ... that composite miniature paintings (example pictured) fuse together humans and animals?
- ... that Fly With Me, one of the first collaborations by Rodgers and Hart, was written for the 1920 Varsity Show?
- ... that The Sims 2: Open for Business has been used to teach business students?
- ... that David Dean served as general counsel to Texas governor Dolph Briscoe, a Democrat, as well as his Republican successor Bill Clements?
- ... that an eruption on Montagu Island that began in 2001 continued for several years and formed a lava delta?
- ... that wampum artist Elizabeth James-Perry also works on ecological restoration projects, including the reintroduction of native plant life?
- ... that the royal necropolis of Ayaa in Sidon, Lebanon, was accidentally discovered in the late 19th century by a workman who stumbled upon a shaft and chamber tomb while quarrying for stone?
- ... that Kent Gaydos played quarterback in high school, then wide receiver in college, and in the NFL changed to tight end before going back to receiver, then tight end again, and then receiver once more?
In the news
- In the United States, Kevin McCarthy (pictured) is removed as Speaker of the House.
- Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman are awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discoveries that led to the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
- In Australian rules football, Collingwood defeat the Brisbane Lions to win the AFL Grand Final.
- A suicide bombing kills more than 50 people in Mastung, Pakistan.
On this day
October 5: World Teachers' Day
_-_Jardim_1.%C2%BA_de_Dezembro,_Portim%C3%A3o.png?lang=en)
- 1143 – The Treaty of Zamora (pictured) established Portugal as a kingdom independent of the Kingdom of León.
- 1869 – During construction of the Eastman tunnel in St. Anthony, Minnesota (now Minneapolis), the Mississippi River broke through the tunnel's limestone ceiling, nearly destroying Saint Anthony Falls.
- 1970 – The environmental organization Greenpeace was incorporated as the Don't Make a Wave Committee in British Columbia, Canada.
- 1999 – Two trains collided head-on in Ladbroke Grove, London, killing 31 people, injuring 417, and severely damaging public confidence in the management and regulation of safety of Britain's privatised railway system.
- 2011 – Two Chinese cargo ships were attacked and their crews murdered on a stretch of the Mekong River in far northern Thailand.
- Justin II (d. 578)
- Paul Fleming (b. 1609)
- Guido von List (b. 1848)
- Kumeko Urabe (b. 1902)
Today's featured picture
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The yellow-throated miner (Manorina flavigula), also known as the white-rumped miner, is a species of colonial honeyeater endemic to Australia. It is a medium-sized, grey passerine bird with yellow throat markings, legs, and bare patches around the eye. The common name miner is an alternative spelling of the word myna, and is shared with other members of the genus Manorina. Though miners were originally named due to their resemblance to the common myna of India that shares similar yellow eye-patch and legs, common mynas are from the starling family and are not closely related to the honeyeaters. This yellow-throated miner was photographed in Sturt National Park in New South Wales, Australia. Photograph credit: JJ Harrison
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