In countries with a parliamentary system of government, contempt of parliament is the offense of obstructing the legislature in carrying out its functions or hindering a legislator in the performance of their duties. The equivalent conduct is called contempt of Congress in the United States. Conduct that can constitute the offense includes deliberately misleading a house or committee, refusing to testify or produce documents when required, and attempting to influence members through bribery or threats. Provisions against it exist across a range of parliamentary systems, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States, each with its own legal framework and enforcement mechanism.
Facts
Typical PenaltyIn Australia, penalties for contempt of parliament are limited to a $5,000 fine and six months imprisonment for individuals, or a $25,000 fine for corporations. 1 Elements of OffenseConduct that may constitute contempt of parliament includes deliberately misleading a house or committee, refusing to testify or produce documents, and attempting to influence a member through bribery or threats. 1 Notable ExampleOn March 21, 2011, a Canadian House of Commons committee found the Government of Canada in contempt of Parliament, leading to a no confidence vote and the 2011 federal election. 1 Jurisdiction VariationThe offense is known by different names depending on jurisdiction, most notably contempt of Congress in the United States. 1 Classification
Offense GradeMinor or Summary Offense 1 Connections
Has Offense Grade
Entity-backed identity for the offense-grade enum value this offense already carries, resolved to a crime concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The offense-grade fact itself stays on the offense unchanged.
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Contempt of parliament (Wikipedia)
Australia section
Punishments are limited under the act to (for individuals) a fine of $5,000 and six months' imprisonment, or (for corporations) a fine of $25,000.
Typology section, jurisdiction naming sentence
The offence is known by various other names in jurisdictions in which the legislature is not called "parliament", most notably contempt of Congress in the United States.
Typology section, list of actions
deliberately misleading a house of the legislature, or a legislative committee
Canada, Contempt citation cases for governments section
the committee tabled a report that found the Government of Canada in contempt of Parliament
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