Commoner

A commoner, in British law, is someone who is neither the Sovereign nor a peer. Therefore, any member of the Royal Family who is not a peer, such as HRH Prince William of Wales or HRH The Princess Royal, is a commoner, as is any member of a peer’s family, including someone with a courtesy title, such as the Earl of Arundel (eldest son of the Duke of Norfolk) or Lady Victoria Hervey (a daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol).

Traditionally, members of the House of Commons were commoners and members of the House of Lords were peers, although peers whose only titles are in the Peerage of Ireland have been able to stand for election to the House of Commons for centuries. Since the House of Lords Act 1999, which excluded most hereditary peers from the House of Lords, most hereditary peers can now stand for election to the House of Commons, even though they are not commoners. For example, the 3rd Viscount Thurso and the 3rd Viscount Hailsham are currently members of the House of Commons.

The term is frequently used to refer to those not of royal blood, but this usage is incorrect.

In some British universities (notably Oxford and Cambridge), a commoner is an undergraduate student who does not hold either a scholarship or an exhibition.



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Immune cells use 'bungee of death' to kill dangerous cells, new resear
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Phonics and Whole Language Learning: A Balanced Approach to Beginning
This article discusses methods that adults can use to help young children learn to read, given that "the question in early childhood programs is not whether to teach 'phonics' or 'whole language learning,' but how to teach phonics in context ... so that children make connections between letters, sounds, and meaning."Includes activities to do with infants, toddlers, and pre-school and school-age children. From the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Songs of the Criminal Life: Reviving the Ballads of Calabria's Origina
Feature about "a CD collection of songs that glorify ... [the] violent code of honor"of the 'Ndrangheta, "the most secretive and elusive of the Italian Mafias."Provides audio of the report, sound clips from the CD collection, and background about the 'Ndrangheta. From National Public Radio (NPR).

Rants: Science Fiction &Fusion
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Terri Schiavo Case: Legal Issues Involving Healthcare Directives, Deat
Compilation of documents and links to information about the court case involving Terri Schiavo, the Florida patient whose feeding tube was removed in March 2005. Topics include legal documents, living wills, the lawyers involved, related cases, power of attorney and health care directives, and commentary. Includes links to related sites. From FindLaw.

Numbers, Sequences Pose Problems For Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Children
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Software Help Mars Rovers Find Winter Havens
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Android Gold Rush: Google Posts $10 Million Bounty on Killer Mobile Ap
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[Ironic] An Italian pensioner committed suicide after his wife fell in
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