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“We felt it was important that they be recorded votes to ensure transparency and accountability,” said Chong. “Constituents and the public will know where each MP stood on these issues.”

Here are the areas that MPs will vote on whether to endorse or reject the law’s rules:

– The election of an interim leader. The law now puts that decision into the hands of each party’s caucus of MPs. Senators would not be able to participate in electing a temporary leader, something that runs counter to, but supersedes, the Conservative party’s constitution.

– A review and removal of a party leader. The law says that if 20 per cent of MPs in a caucus seek a leadership review, one would occur in a second vote. On that second ballot, the deciding margin must be 50 per cent plus one of the entire caucus.

– The caucus chair. The law says MPs in a caucus would hold a secret ballot to elect or remove their caucus chair. Currently, in some parties, the chair is elected.

– Expelling MPs from caucus. The law says that if 20 per cent of MPs in a caucus want someone reviewed, that would spark a review and the expulsion would be approved by a secret ballot by a majority of the caucus.

If MPs reject any of those rules, they simply will not apply to their caucus for the next four years. After the next election, a new crop of MPs will have to hold votes again on whether the Reform Act should apply to them.

Rob Nicol, spokesman for outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said it was “a matter for caucus to decide” whether the party will adopt the Reform Act’s rules.

Liberal spokesman Daniel Lauzon said that following Justin Trudeau’s election victory, the party is focusing on ensuring an “orderly transition” as it prepares to take office Nov. 4.

“A date for the first Liberal caucus has not yet been set, but we will respect the Act’s provisions and we expect it to be discussed when caucus does meet.”

George Smith, spokesman for NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, said neither a date nor an agenda have been confirmed for the first gathering of caucus.

mkennedy@ottawacitizen.com

Twitter.com/Mark_Kennedy_