Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
alt. 1 (context British English) In the House of Commons, either of two benches nearest the floor of the chamber, one occupied by the members of the Cabinet and the other by the Shadow Cabinet. 2 Those Member of Parliament occupying the front benches. n. 1 (context British English) In the House of Commons, either of two benches nearest the floor of the chamber, one occupied by the members of the Cabinet and the other by the Shadow Cabinet. 2 Those Member of Parliament occupying the front benches.
WordNet
n. any of the front seats in the House of Commons that are reserved for ministers or former ministers
Wikipedia
A front bench in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland, refers to any organised group of party members who holds any degree of speaking power (derived from the party) on specific issues. The Teachtaí Dála (TDs) who are members of the Government of Ireland constitutes the government front bench, while the members of parties in declared opposition to the government constitute the opposition front bench.
Third parties (those who may not be in government or opposition) may only form front benches with the power to speak or be recognised by the Ceann Comhairle if such parties number at least seven TDs. In order to attain the right to speak in session, parties and independents can ally themselves into coalitions known as technical groups of at least 7 TDs. An analogous term in other Westminster-based systems is the cross bench (as opposed to the front bench or back bench).
Despite the frequent necessity for coalitions in front benches, each party retains its own front bench spokespersons analogous (but not exclusively analogous) to government departments. When a smaller party is participant in a coalition, its own party front bench is semi-subservient to the coalition's agreed-upon front bench roster.
Usage examples of "front bench".
Skolnick would then circle through the Center City, while the lawyer in the passenger seat stuffed the envelope into the breach between the red calfskin backrest and the front bench.
But Bartley was astonished to hear Swain arguing from the front bench that Quakers must do noth.
The Survey Globe had been moved aside and the Tuyere occupied a position on the front bench center at the end of the hall.
Two women, huddled into shawls, sat on the front bench watching over a third.
They took an attentive seat on a front bench and managed not to giggle together.
He leaped into a bus for the long ride to Greenwich Village, climbed to the deserted top and, sitting alone on the front bench, cursed the traffic lights whenever they turned to red.
Ron's brother Percy was sitting at the very end of the front bench.