This article seeks to better understand the role of parliamentary minutes for grounding an idealized parliamentary order. Although parliamentary minutes are often considered verbatim and objective, the opposite is true. Debate minutes contain several biases and are not easily usable. Minutes do not necessarily transcribe the exact words of the speakers and speeches do not always adhere to the same grammatical conventions as the written word. If transcribed verbatim, they may be unclear or difficult to parse. Thus, their wording is often revised, modified for readability, and even edited for greater clarity and coherence. These edits increase the clarity of the minutes but decrease their authenticity and validity. What is written might transcribe the thought of the member of Parliament, but not always what was actually said.