kangaroo closure
C2+ (Very Rare/Specialist)Formal, Political, Parliamentary
Definition
Meaning
A parliamentary procedure where debate is limited by selectively applying closure motions to parts of a bill rather than the whole.
A method of ending legislative discussion by jumping over sections of debate, preventing discussion on specific clauses without halting the entire legislative process.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to Westminster-style parliamentary systems; metaphorical use of 'kangaroo' suggests leaping over sections of debate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a British/Commonwealth parliamentary term; rarely used in US political discourse where 'cloture' or 'previous question' are standard.
Connotations
UK: procedural, sometimes controversial tactic. US: largely unknown outside academic political science.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency; appears in parliamentary reports and political science texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The Speaker applied kangaroo closure to the amendment.Kangaroo closure was used to limit debate.They proceeded by kangaroo closure.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to kangaroo through a bill”
- “kangaroo tactics”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Political science papers on parliamentary procedure.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Hansard reports, standing orders manuals.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government sought to kangaroo the bill through its final stages.
- They attempted to kangaroo closure over the contentious clauses.
American English
- The majority leader threatened to kangaroo the amendment process.
- This procedure effectively kangaroos debate on key sections.
adverb
British English
- The bill was passed kangaroo-style, without proper scrutiny.
- They proceeded kangaroo-fashion through the schedule.
American English
- The measure was handled kangaroo-quickly in the subcommittee.
- Debate moved kangaroo-fast through the controversial sections.
adjective
British English
- The kangaroo closure procedure accelerated the bill's passage.
- MPs criticised the kangaroo tactics employed.
American English
- A kangaroo-closure motion was introduced to bypass filibuster.
- The committee used a kangaroo method to advance the legislation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The term 'kangaroo closure' is used in some parliaments.
- The opposition protested the use of kangaroo closure to limit debate on the tax bill.
- Invoking kangaroo closure allowed the government to circumvent detailed discussion of the environmental amendments, drawing criticism from backbenchers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a kangaroo hopping over parts of a debate it doesn't want to discuss.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS A JOURNEY (with obstacles being jumped over).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'kangaroo' literally; it's a fixed procedural term.
- Avoid confusion with 'clôture' (French for closure) which is different.
Common Mistakes
- Using for general closure of debate (it's selective).
- Confusing with 'kangaroo court' (which is judicial, not legislative).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of kangaroo closure?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Related but not identical. A guillotine sets a fixed time for entire debate stages; kangaroo closure selectively jumps over specific clauses or amendments within a debate.
Primarily in Westminster-style parliaments (e.g., UK, Australia, Canada) as a specific standing order or procedural motion.
The metaphor suggests the debate 'jumps over' certain sections, much like a kangaroo hops, avoiding detailed discussion on them.
Yes, typically through points of order, appeals to the Speaker, or subsequent procedural motions, though success depends on the ruling of the chair and parliamentary arithmetic.