Dissolution of the United Kingdom Parliament
Encyclopedia
The Parliament of the United Kingdom
is dissolved 17 days before a polling day as determined by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.
Members of Parliament cease to be so, as soon as it is dissolved, and, although they and their staff continue to be paid until polling day, they may not enter the Palace of Westminster
. Parliament is usually prorogued or adjourned
before it is dissolved. Parliament may continue to sit for a wash-up period
of a few days after the Prime Minister has announced the date when Parliament will be dissolved, to finish some last items of Parliamentary business.
A Royal Proclamation is made summoning a new parliament and requiring the despatch of writs of election. A general election must be held 17 days after the Proclamation summoning parliament issues, excluding weekends and bank holidays. By tradition, a copy of the Royal Proclamation is delivered by hand from the Privy Council Office
to Mansion House
in the City of London
and is then read out by the Serjeant-at-Arms of the City on the steps of the Royal Exchange in the heart of the City, ahead of it also being read out in the London borough
s. This tradition was again carried out at the most recent dissolution, in 2010.
The most recent dissolution of Parliament was on 12 April 2010, to make way for the 2010 general election held on 6 May.
(as amended by the Parliament Act 1911
). This could, however, be overridden at a time of national emergency. The length of Parliament was extended on two occasions since 1911, once during each of the two World War
s. At any time the Sovereign
could dissolve parliament and call a general election
. In accordance with constitutional convention
, the Sovereign did not act independently, but on the advice of the Prime Minister
, meaning that Prime Ministers had de facto authority to dissolve Parliament at a time of their choosing. Prior to 1918, it was the Cabinet
who collectively sought permission from the monarch in order for Parliament to be dissolved. However, since 1918, the Prime Minister alone sought the permission of the Sovereign.
Fixed term parliaments were introduced by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 following the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement
promulgated after the 2010 election, thereby abolishing the ability of the Prime Minister to unilaterally call an election prior to the expiry of the five-year term.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
is dissolved 17 days before a polling day as determined by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.
Members of Parliament cease to be so, as soon as it is dissolved, and, although they and their staff continue to be paid until polling day, they may not enter the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
. Parliament is usually prorogued or adjourned
Adjournment
An adjournment is a suspension of proceedings to another time or place. To adjourn means to suspend until a later stated time or place.-Law:In law, to adjourn means to suspend proceedings to another time or place, or to end them....
before it is dissolved. Parliament may continue to sit for a wash-up period
Wash-up period
The wash-up period is the last few days while a Parliament of the United Kingdom continues to sit after the Prime Minister has announced the date when Parliament will be dissolved so a general election can be held but before Parliament has been formally adjourned, prorogued or...
of a few days after the Prime Minister has announced the date when Parliament will be dissolved, to finish some last items of Parliamentary business.
A Royal Proclamation is made summoning a new parliament and requiring the despatch of writs of election. A general election must be held 17 days after the Proclamation summoning parliament issues, excluding weekends and bank holidays. By tradition, a copy of the Royal Proclamation is delivered by hand from the Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office (United Kingdom)
The Privy Council Office provides secretarial and administrative support to the Lord President of the Council in his or her capacity of president of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. The head of the Office is the Clerk of the Privy Council...
to Mansion House
Mansion House, London
Mansion House is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London in London, England. It is used for some of the City of London's official functions, including an annual dinner, hosted by the Lord Mayor, at which the Chancellor of the Exchequer customarily gives a speech – his...
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
and is then read out by the Serjeant-at-Arms of the City on the steps of the Royal Exchange in the heart of the City, ahead of it also being read out in the London borough
London borough
The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. Inner London comprises twelve of these boroughs plus the City of London. Outer London comprises the twenty remaining boroughs of Greater London.-Functions:...
s. This tradition was again carried out at the most recent dissolution, in 2010.
The most recent dissolution of Parliament was on 12 April 2010, to make way for the 2010 general election held on 6 May.
Previous situation
Prior to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, Parliament would expire after a five year term, as laid down in the Septennial Act 1715Septennial Act 1715
The Septennial Act 1715 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. It was passed in May 1716. It increased the maximum length of a parliament from three years to seven...
(as amended by the Parliament Act 1911
Parliament Act 1911
The Parliament Act 1911 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is constitutionally important and partly governs the relationship between the House of Commons and the House of Lords which make up the Houses of Parliament. This Act must be construed as one with the Parliament Act 1949...
). This could, however, be overridden at a time of national emergency. The length of Parliament was extended on two occasions since 1911, once during each of the two World War
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s. At any time the Sovereign
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
could dissolve parliament and call a general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. In accordance with constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political custom)
A constitutional convention is an informal and uncodified procedural agreement that is followed by the institutions of a state. In some states, notably those Commonwealth of Nations states that follow the Westminster system and whose political systems derive from British constitutional law, most...
, the Sovereign did not act independently, but on the advice of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, meaning that Prime Ministers had de facto authority to dissolve Parliament at a time of their choosing. Prior to 1918, it was the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
who collectively sought permission from the monarch in order for Parliament to be dissolved. However, since 1918, the Prime Minister alone sought the permission of the Sovereign.
Fixed term parliaments were introduced by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 following the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement
Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement
The Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement was a policy document drawn up following the 2010 general election in the United Kingdom...
promulgated after the 2010 election, thereby abolishing the ability of the Prime Minister to unilaterally call an election prior to the expiry of the five-year term.
External links
- Elections - FAQ
- Election Timetables, House of Commons Library Research Paper 09/44, 13 May 2009
- Dissolution of Parliament 2010
- Prorogation of the 54th Parliament of the United Kingdom video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.