Most senior policy will be made at the cabinet level, regardless of what individual MPs may or may not decide in committee, thus reducing the strength of committees. Their greatest power is often the ability to force a government to reveal certain pieces of information.
==Ceremonies==
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The Westminster system has a very distinct appearance when functioning, with many British customs incorporated into day-to-day government function. A Westminster-style parliament is usually a long, rectangular room, with two rows of seats and desks on either side. The chairs are positioned so that the two rows are facing each other. Traditionally, the opposition parties will sit in one row of seats, and the government party will sit in the other. Of course, sometimes a [[majority government]] is so large that it must use the "opposition" seats as well. In the lower house at Westminster (the House of Commons) there are lines on the floor in front of the government and opposition benches that members may cross only when exiting the chamber. It is often rumoured that the distance between the lines is that of the length of two swords although no documentary evidence exists to support this and in fact, weapons have never been allowed in the Palace of Westminster at any time.
At one end of the room sits a large chair, for the [[Speaker of the British House of Commons|Speaker of the House]]. The speaker usually wears a black robe, and in many countries, a [[Wig (hair)|wig]]. Robed parliamentary [[clerk]]s often sit at narrow tables between the two rows of seats, as well.
Other ceremonies sometimes associated with the Westminster system include an annual [[Speech from the Throne]] (or equivalent) in which the Head of State gives a special address (written by the government) to parliament about what kind of policies to expect in the coming year, and lengthy [[State Opening of Parliament]] ceremonies that often involve the presentation of a large [[ceremonial mace]].