In many parliaments and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with each political party or caucus grouped together. The spokespeople for each group will often sit at the front of their group, and are then known as being on the frontbench (or front bench) and are described as frontbenchers. Those sitting behind them are known as backbenchers. Independent and minority parties sit to the side, and are referred to as crossbenchers.

In the British House of Commons, the Government frontbench is traditionally called the treasury bench ('the treasury' is the oldest government department). The government frontbench is on the right hand side as seen by the Chairman (typically the Speaker of the House of Commons or the Lord Speaker), and is occupied by Government ministers. The opposition frontbench is occupied by shadow ministers, of which the most senior form the Shadow Cabinet.

While backbenchers are referred to in the Canadian House of Commons (and the provincial legislatures), the front seats on the government side are reserved for cabinet ministers. Front row members are not referred to as frontbenchers, but as cabinet ministers. Some "frontbenchers" actually sit in the centre of the second row, so as to be seen directly behind the party leader during Question Period (and thus, in the television frame).

Ed Husic (born 3 February 1970), an Australian federal politician, is a member of the Australian House of Representatives, elected to represent the seat of Chifley in western Sydney for the Australian Labor Party at the 2010 federal election . Husic was raised in Western Sydney and attended Blacktown South Public School and Mitchell High School. Husic completed a BA (Applied Communications) being amongst the initial wave of students to graduate from the University of Western Sydney.

Husic comes from a Bosniac family, and often describes himself as a Muslim who doesn't involve himself with the activities that are part of the faith. His family background has gained media attention at various times, most notably when he stood as a candidate for Greenway at the 2004 federal election.

In the 1990s, Husic worked as a research officer for the Member for Chifley, Roger Price. Husic was first elected as a Branch Organiser in 1997. In 1998, he was elected as Vice-President of the Communications Division of the CEPU. From 1999 to 2003, Husic worked for Integral Energy, as a Communications Manager. In July 2006, he became the Secretary of the Communications Division of the CEPU. Husic was the National President of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia (CEPU) and was the Divisional Secretary of the CEPU (Communications Division), prior to being elected to federal parliament.

Christopher Maurice Pyne, MP (born 13 August 1967), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since 13 March 1993, representing the Division of Sturt, South Australia.

Pyne was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1967, and was educated at Saint Ignatius College, South Australia and the University of Adelaide, where he gained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and was President of Adelaide University Liberal Club from 1987 to 1988. He was a research assistant to Senator Amanda Vanstone and later became President of the South Australian Young Liberals from 1988-1990. Pyne was then selected as the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Ross Smith—a very safe Labor seat—at the 1989 election, but was defeated by the sitting member and Premier of South Australia, John Bannon. He earned a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the University of South Australia and began practising as a solicitor in 1991. During this time he began working in Ian Wilson's Federal electoral office for Sturt.

Chuka Harrison Umunna (born 17 October 1978) is a British Labour Party politician and employment lawyer who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Streatham since 2010. After less than 18 months in Parliament, he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Business Secretary by Labour Leader Ed Miliband on 7 October 2011. Umunna has described himself as being "One Nation Labour" and has written articles promoting the Blue Labour trend.

Umunna was born to a Nigerian father from Awka, and an Irish mother. He is the grandson of High Court Judge Sir Helenus Milmo QC, as well as the nephew of libel lawyer Patrick Milmo QC. Umunna was educated at Hitherfield Primary School in Streatham, South London, at the voluntary aided Christ Church Primary School in Brixton Hill, and at the independent secondary school St. Dunstan's College in Catford. He obtained an LLB in English and French Law from the University of Manchester and then studied for a semester at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, before going on to study for a Master of Arts at Nottingham Law School.