MAX 6 MONTHS GAP
Sessions of Parliament
Summoning, Prorogation, Dissolution & Quorum
PART I — THE LIFECYCLE & ACTIVITY
ARTICLE 85(1)
Summoning
- The **President** summons each House of Parliament to meet.
- **The 6-Month Rule:** The maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament cannot be more than six months.
- Therefore, Parliament must meet at least **twice a year**. By convention, there are 3 sessions: Budget (Feb-May), Monsoon (Jul-Sep), and Winter (Nov-Dec).
ARTICLE 100(3)
Quorum
- The minimum number of members required to be present to transact any business in the House.
- It is **one-tenth (1/10th)** of the total number of members of the House (including the presiding officer).
- Lok Sabha: **55 members**. Rajya Sabha: **25 members**.
- If there is no quorum, the presiding officer must adjourn the House or suspend the meeting.
PART II — TERMINATION OF SITTINGS & HOUSE
SUSPENSION VS END
Adjournment & Prorogation
- **Adjournment:** Suspends the work in a *sitting* for a specified time (hours/days). Done by the Presiding Officer (Speaker/Chairman).
- **Adjournment Sine Die:** Terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period.
- **Prorogation:** Terminates a *session* of the House. Done by the **President**. It does not affect pending bills.
ARTICLE 85(2)(b)
Dissolution
- Ends the very life of the existing House. A new House is constituted after general elections.
- **Only the Lok Sabha** is subject to dissolution (Rajya Sabha is a permanent House).
- **Effect on Bills:** Generally, bills pending in the Lok Sabha (or passed by LS but pending in RS) **lapse**. Bills originating in RS and pending there do *not* lapse.
Return to Index: Indian Polity