Terminology
Several recurring terms and phrases associated with the parliamentary cycle require explanation for the purpose
of clarity.
- Parliament
- A Parliament is a period of time, during which the institution of Parliament (comprising
the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons) exercises its powers. The process of starting a
Parliament begins with the proclamation of the Governor General calling for the formation of a new
Parliament and setting the date for a general election. A Parliament ends with its dissolution. A House of
Commons has a constitutionally determined maximum lifespan of five years. [6]
- Session
- A session is one of the fundamental time periods into which a Parliament is divided, and usually
consists of a number of separate sittings. A session begins with a Speech from the Throne when Parliament is
summoned by proclamation of the Governor General; it ends with a prorogation or dissolution of Parliament.
There may be any number of sessions in a Parliament; the numbers have ranged from one to seven. [7]
There is no set length for a session.
- Sitting
- A sitting is a meeting of the House within a session. The Standing Orders provide times and days for the
sittings of the House. [8]
A sitting is not necessarily synonymous with a “day”. Some sittings are very brief; some have
extended over more than one calendar day. [9]
- Adjournment
- An adjournment is the termination of a sitting (pursuant to Standing or Special Order, or by motion).
An adjournment covers the period between the end of one sitting and the beginning of the next. It can be of
varying duration — a few hours, overnight, over a weekend, a week or longer. [10]
While prorogation and dissolution are prerogative acts of the Crown, the power to adjourn rests solely with
the House.
- Parliamentary Calendar
- The parliamentary calendar, as laid out in the Standing Orders, provides a fixed timetable of sittings
and adjournments for a full calendar year. [11]
In effect, once a session begins, the calendar alternates sitting periods with adjournments
at set points throughout the year. Each year consists of seven sitting periods of approximately three to
five weeks in length, and seven adjournments of varying lengths.
- Prorogation
- Prorogation of Parliament is the ending of a session, with a special ceremony held in the Senate Chamber
or with the issuance of a Governor General’s proclamation to that effect. Prorogation also refers to
the period of time a Parliament stands prorogued.
- Recess
- The time between the ending of one session and the opening of the next can be called a recess. In
practice, the term “recess” is also used in reference to a lengthy adjournment.
- Dissolution
- Dissolution is the formal ending of a Parliament by proclamation of the Governor General. This has
always occurred prior to the five-year time limit set by the Constitution for the expiration of the House
of Commons by effluxion of time. Dissolution is followed by a general election.