Prorogation

Prorogation in the Westminster system of government is the action of proroguing, or interrupting, a parliament, or the discontinuance of meetings for a given period of time, without a dissolution of parliament. The term is also used for the period of such a discontinuance between two legislative sessions of a legislative body. Prorogatio In the constitution of ancient Rome, prorogatio was the extension of a commander's imperium beyond the one-year term of his magistracy, usually that of consul or praetor. Prorogatio developed as a legal procedure in response to Roman expansionism and militarization. This usage is unrelated to the modern parliamentary term. Section 5 of the Constitution of Australia In Australia, prorogation is the end of a session in the Australian Parliament pursuant to section 5 of the Constitution of Australia. Prorogation in Canada Prorogation is the end of a session in the Parliament of Canada. New Zealand Parliament#Term Prorogation is the end of a session in the New Zealand Parliament pursuant to the Constitution Act 1986. The ability of the speaker to recall parliament during an adjournment has rendered prorogation almost obsolete, and the procedure was last used in 1991. House of Commons of Northern Ireland#Procedure Prorogation in Northern Ireland was the end of a session in the Parliament of Northern Ireland (1921–1972). Prorogation in the United Kingdom Prorogation Act 1867 and 2019 British prorogation controversy Prorogation is the formal ending of a Parliamentary session in the UK Parliament. Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Clause_3:_Convening_and_adjourning_of_Congress and Federalist No. 69 Under Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution the President of the United States technically has the authority to adjourn the United States Congress "to such Time as he shall think proper" when it is unable to agree on a time of adjournment. However, this is a procedural ability that has so far never been used. The members of the Constitutional Convention agreed to limit executive authority in order to prevent autocracy.