Dissolution of parliament

2021-12-01T22:41:40Z

128.114.255.195:

{{short description|Dispersal of a legislature}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
The dissolution of a [[legislative assembly]] is the mandatory simultaneous resignation of all of its members, in anticipation that a successive legislative assembly will reconvene later with possibly different members. In a [[democracy]], the new assembly is chosen by a [[general election]]. Dissolution is distinct on the one hand from abolition of the assembly, and on the other hand from its [[adjournment]] or [[prorogation]], or the ending of a [[legislative session]], any of which begins a period of inactivity after which it is anticipated that the same members will reassemble. For example, the "second session of the fifth parliament" could be followed by the "third session of the fifth parliament" after a prorogation, but the "first session of the sixth parliament" after a dissolution.

Dissolution may be triggered automatically when the assembly reaches the end of a fixed or maximum term. Early dissolutions may be possible in [[parliamentary system]]s, to resolve conflicts between the [[Executive (government)|executive]] and the legislature; either a [[snap election]] called by an executive seeking to increase its legislative support, or an election triggered by parliament withholding [[confidence and supply]] from the government. Some [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] systems also allow early dissolutions.

In a [[bicameral]] legislature, dissolution may apply jointly or separately to the [[lower house]] and [[upper house]], or may apply only to the lower house, with the upper house never fully dissolved. In a bicameral [[Westminster system]], the expression "dissolution of parliament" typically refers to the dissolution of the lower house, just as "[[member of parliament]]" means member of the lower house.

== Australia ==

The [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], but not the [[Australian Senate|Senate]], can be dissolved at any time by the [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]] on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]]. The term of the House expires three years after its first meeting if not dissolved earlier. The Governor-General can dissolve the Senate only by also dissolving the House of Representatives (a [[double dissolution]]) and only in limited circumstances spelled out in the [[Constitution of Australia|Constitution]].

There is a [[constitutional convention (political custom)|convention]] that the Governor-General only orders a dissolution on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]]. This convention was demonstrated in the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis|dismissal]] of prime minister [[Gough Whitlam]] by the Governor General [[John Kerr (governor-general)|Sir John Kerr]]
in 1975. Kerr claimed that dissolving the House of Representatives was his duty and "the only democratic and constitutional solution" to the political deadlock over supply.<ref>Sir John Kerr’s Statement of Reasons for the dismissal of Gough Whitlam, issued by Government House on November 11, 1975</ref> Whitlam refused to advise Kerr to call an election, and Kerr replaced him with a caretaker Prime Minister, [[Malcolm Fraser]]. Fraser promptly advised a double dissolution, and Sir John acted in accordance with that advice.

=== Parliament of Victoria ===
Unlike the Commonwealth Parliament, the [[Premier of Victoria|Premier]] and [[Governor of Victoria]] have very little discretion in dissolving the [[Parliament of Victoria]]. Both the [[Victorian Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] and the [[Victorian Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] are dissolved automatically twenty-five days before the last Saturday in November every four years. However, the [[Governor of Victoria|Governor]] can dissolve the Legislative Assembly if a motion of no confidence in the Premier and the other Ministers of State is passed and no motion of confidence is passed within the next week. Finally, the Premier can advise the Governor to dissolve both houses in the case of a deadlocked bill.

== Belgium ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
In [[Belgium]], dissolution occurs either by royal order or by law upon a [[Declaration of Revision of the Constitution]] (Art. 195 Const.). Since the First World War, elections have always been called with either of these actions, except for [[Belgian general election, 1929|1929]]. A third scenario, dissolution by law due to a vacant [[Monarchy of Belgium|throne]], has never occurred.

Dissolution by law dissolves both the [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]] and the [[Senate (Belgium)|Senate]]. A royal order originally could dissolve the Chamber, the Senate, or both. However, the last dissolution of one chamber only happened in [[Belgian general election, 1884|1884]]; both chambers were always dissolved together since then. With the 1993 [[State reform in Belgium|constitutional reforms]], only the Chamber could be dissolved, with the Senate being automatically dissolved as well. Since 2014 [[Sixth Belgian state reform|constitutional reforms]], only the Chamber can be dissolved, as the Senate is no longer directly elected.

After dissolution, elections must be held within 40 days, and the new chambers must convene within three months (within two months from 1831 to 2014).

Parliaments of the [[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|regions and communities]] cannot be dissolved; they have fixed five-year terms.

== Canada ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
The [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]], but not the [[Senate of Canada|Senate]], can be dissolved at any time by the [[Queen of Canada]] or by [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]], [[constitutional convention (political custom)#Canada|conventionally]] on the [[advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]. In the case of a constitutional crisis, the Crown may act on its own with no advice from another body of the Parliament. If the government is refused [[confidence (politics)|confidence]] or [[denial of supply|supply]], the Prime Minister must either resign and permit another member of the House of Commons to form a government, or else advise the [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] to dissolve Parliament. Also, the House of Commons automatically dissolves after five years, although, {{as of|2021|lc=on}}, no House of Commons has yet survived that long.

The [[provinces of Canada|provincial]] [[Legislative Assemblies of Canadian provinces and territories|legislatures]] may also be dissolved at any time for the same reasons, by the [[Lieutenant Governor (Canada)|Lieutenant Governor]] on the advice of the [[Premier (Canada)|Premier]]. [[British Columbia]], [[Ontario]], [[Québec]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], [[Prince Edward Island]], [[Manitoba]] and the [[Northwest Territories]] have established [[fixed election dates]].

== Czech Republic ==
The [[Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic]] may be dissolved by the president when at least one condition specified by the constitution is fulfilled. The Senate can never be dissolved. After the dissolution, snap elections are to be held no later than after 60 days.

The chamber can be dissolved if
*The chamber does not pass a motion of confidence to the government formed by the prime minister who was recommended by the speaker of the chamber (Who can do so after 2 failed government with a prime minister appointed solely by the president).
*The chamber fails to pass the government proposed law linked to the motion of confidence in 3 months.
*The chamber adjourns its meeting for a time longer than 120 days.
*The chamber is not quorate for a time longer than 3 months.
*The chamber passes a motion of dissolution by a constitutional majority (120 out of 200 deputies must support it). President is obliged to dissolve the chamber if such motion passes.

Since the formation of the Czech Republic, the Chamber of deputies was only dissolved once. In 2013, by passing a motion of dissolution after a lengthy crisis following the fall of [[Petr Nečas' Cabinet|Petr Nečas' government]],

Before such practice was made possible by amending the Constitution in 2009, Chamber of deputies was once dissolved in 1998 by passing a special constitutional act, which shortened its term, but such practice was blocked by Constitutional court, when it was tried again in 2009<ref>[[:cs:Ústavní zákon o zkrácení pátého volebního období Poslanecké sněmovny]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=March 2019}}

== Denmark ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
The government can call an election to the [[Folketing]] at any time, and is obliged to call one before the incumbent membership's four-year terms expire. However, the Folketing is never formally ''dissolved'', and it retains its legislative power until new members have been elected. In practice the Folketing will cancel all its ongoing business when an election is called, to give the members time to campaign, but it can reconvene in case a national emergency requires urgent legislation before the election takes place.

== Estonia ==
Per Section 60 of the [[Constitution of Estonia]], regular elections to the [[Riigikogu]], Estonia's unicameral parliament, are held on the first Sunday of March in the fourth year following the preceding parliamentary election. However, the Riigikogu can be dissolved by the [[President of Estonia]] and fresh elections called prior to the expiration of its four-year term if one of the following four circumstances should occur:

# Following the resignation of the outgoing Government, a new Government is unable to be formed according to the procedure established by Section 89 of the Constitution.
# The Riigikogu passes a motion of no confidence in the Government or the Prime Minister, and the Government proposes (within three days of the no-confidence motion) that the President call an early election.
# The Riigikogu submits a proposed law to a referendum, and that proposed law fails to receive a majority of the votes cast in the referendum, per Section 105 of the Constitution.
# The Riigikogu fails to approve a national budget within two months of the beginning of the financial year, per Section 119 of the Constitution.<ref>https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/521052015001/consolide</ref>

In the first, third, and fourth cases above, the President must call an early election. In the second case, however, a Government that has lost the confidence of the Riigikogu is not obliged to request an early election. This occurred in 2016, when [[Prime Minister of Estonia|Prime Minister]] [[Taavi Rõivas]] lost a no confidence motion. His government resigned, and [[President of Estonia|President]] [[Kersti Kaljulaid]] nominated [[Jüri Ratas]] to form the next government without an election taking place.<ref>https://news.err.ee/119642/prime-minister-loses-no-confidence-vote-forced-to-resign</ref><ref>https://news.err.ee/119804/president-appoints-juri-ratas-government</ref>

Likewise, if a Government loses a no confidence vote and requests an early election, the President can refuse the Government's request if it appears a successor government could command the support of the Riigikogu.

As of 2018, every convocation of the Riigikogu has run its full term.

== Finland ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
The [[President of Finland]] can dissolve the parliament and call for an early election. As per the version of [[Constitution of Finland|the 2000 constitution]] currently in use, the president can do this only upon proposal by the [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] and after consultations with the parliamentary groups while the Parliament is in session. In prior versions of the constitution, the President had the power to do this unilaterally.

== France ==
Under the [[French Fourth Republic]] formed after [[World War II]], there was originally a weak role for the [[President of France]]. However, when [[Charles de Gaulle]], who favored a [[Presidential system|presidential government]] with a strong [[Executive (government)|executive]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charles-de-gaulle.org/pages/l-homme/accueil/discours/de-gaulle-et-la-quatrieme-republique-1946-1958/discours-de-bayeux-16-juin-1946.php|title=Discours de Bayeux ''<nowiki>[Speech of Bayeux]</nowiki>''|last=Charles De Gaulle|date=June 16, 1946|publisher=charles-de-gaulle.org|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517181914/http://www.charles-de-gaulle.org/pages/l-homme/accueil/discours/de-gaulle-et-la-quatrieme-republique-1946-1958/discours-de-bayeux-16-juin-1946.php|archive-date=May 17, 2011}}

[[Help:Category|Categories]]</ref> was invited to form a new government and constitution during the [[May 1958 crisis in France|May 1958 crisis]] he directed the constitutional committee chaired by [[Michel Debré]] to increase the authority of the presidency, including providing the ability to dissolve the National Assembly.<ref>W. Scott Haine (2000). ''The History of France''. Greenwood Press. p. 180.</ref>

Under Article 12 of the [[Constitution of France|1958 French Constitution]], the [[French National Assembly|National Assembly]] can be dissolved by the [[President of the French Republic|President]] at any time after consultation with the [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister]] and the presidents of the two chambers of [[French Parliament|Parliament]]. After the declaration, new [[Elections in France|elections]] must be held within twenty to forty days. The National Assembly elected following such a dissolution cannot be dissolved within the first year of its term.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/langues/welcome-to-the-english-website-of-the-french-national-assembly#Title2|title=Constitution of October 4, 1958|website=www2.assemblee-nationale.fr|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref>

A dissolution of the National Assembly most recently occurred when President [[Jacques Chirac]] dissolved the National Assembly before the [[1997 French legislative election]] in order to secure a new parliament more sympathetic to his policies, which ultimately failed when the opposition [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] won the election against Chirac's party the [[Rally for the Republic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-04-22-mn-51145-story.html|title=French President Dissolves Parliament, Sets Election|date=1997-04-22|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hainsworth|first=Paul|date=1998-01-01|title=The Return of the Left: The 1997 French Parliamentary Election|url=https://academic.oup.com/pa/article/51/1/71/1465130|journal=Parliamentary Affairs|language=en|volume=51|issue=1|pages=71–83|doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.pa.a028777|issn=0031-2290}}</ref>

== Germany ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
According to the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law]], the [[Bundestag]] can be dissolved by the [[President of Germany|federal president]] if the [[Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic)|Chancellor]] loses a [[vote of confidence]], or if a newly elected Bundestag proves unable to elect a chancellor with absolute majority. The second possibility has never occurred yet but the Bundestag has been dissolved in 1972, 1982, and 2005 when the then-ruling chancellors [[Willy Brandt]], [[Helmut Kohl]], and [[Gerhard Schröder]] deliberately lost votes of confidence in order that there could be fresh [[Elections in Germany|elections]]. On the last two occasions, the decree of dissolution was challenged without success before the [[Federal Constitutional Court|Constitutional Court]]. No president has yet refused a dissolution of the Bundestag when the choice came to him.

The Bundestag is automatically dissolved four years after the last General Election, and most Bundestags have lasted the full term.

The second federal legislative body, the [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]], cannot be dissolved, as its members are the [[States of Germany|federal states]]' governments as such rather than specific individuals.

== Hong Kong ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
In [[Hong Kong]] the [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]], who is the head of the territory and head of government, has the power to dissolve the [[Legislative Council (Hong Kong)|Legislative Council]] if it fails to pass the appropriation bill or any other important bill, or if it passes a bill but he or she refuses to give assent. In the latter case, if the Legislative Council passes the bill again with a two-thirds majority, the Chief Executive has to resign. This has not happened since 1997. Before 1997, the Legislative Council could be dissolved at the [[Governor of Hong Kong|Governor]]'s pleasure.

== India ==
{{See also|Lawmaking procedure in India}}
Legislative power is constitutionally vested in the [[Parliament of India]], of which the [[President of India|President]] is the head, to facilitate the law-making process as per the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Basu|first=D. D.|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India|publisher=[[Lexis Nexis]]|year=2008|isbn=978-81-8038-559-9|edition=20th|location=[[New Delhi]]|pages=181, 184|oclc=289009455|author-link=Durga Das Basu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite wikisource|title=Constitution of India (1950)|wslink=Constitution of India/Part V}} See Part V, Articles [[wikisource:Constitution of India/Part V#Article_78_{Duties_of_Prime_Minister_as_respects_the_furnishing_of_information_to_the_President,_etc.}|78]] and [[wikisource:Constitution of India/Part V#Article_86_{Right_of_President_to_address_and_send_messages_to_Houses}|86]].</ref> The President summons both the Houses (the [[Lok Sabha]] and the [[Rajya Sabha]]) of the Parliament and prorogues them. They also have the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha pursuant to Article 85(2)(b). When Parliament is dissolved, all bills pending within the Lok Sabha lapse.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-05-27|title=Citizenship amendment, triple talaq bills lapse|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/citizenship-amendment-triple-talaq-bills-lapse/articleshow/69524686.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-07-04}}</ref> However, bills in the Rajya Sabha never lapse, and can remain pending for decades.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ghosh|first=Abantika|date=2019-06-22|title=Lapsing of Bills waste of Lok Sabha time, rethink provision: Venkaiah to Rajya Sabha|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/parliament-rajya-sabha-venkaiah-naidu-bills-om-birla-narendra-modi-rahul-gandhi-5794025/|access-date=2020-07-04|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

== Indonesia ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
Since the third amendment of the [[Constitution of Indonesia]] enacted on 18 August 2001 by the [[People's Consultative Assembly|MPR]], the [[President of Indonesia|President]] can not dissolve or freeze the [[People's Representative Council|DPR]]. Written in the article 7C, this was done after President [[Abdurrahman Wahid]] attempted to do so on 23 July 2001 through a [[Abdurrahman Wahid's 23 July 2001 Decree|presidential decree]], prompting his impeachment to be rapidly finalized that night.

== Republic of Ireland ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
[[Dáil Éireann]] (the lower house of the [[Oireachtas]]) can be dissolved by the [[President of Ireland|President]], on the advice of the [[Taoiseach]] (Prime Minister). The President may only deny such a dissolution if the Taoiseach has lost the confidence of the Dáil, through a [[vote of no confidence]] (or, it could be argued after a Budget or other important bill has failed to pass). This has never happened, and, in the past, [[Taoiseach|Taoisigh]] have requested dissolutions before votes of no confidence have taken place, so as to force a General Election rather than a handover of Government. A Dáil must be dissolved, and then a General Election held, within five years of its first meeting.

There are two notable instances when the President did not dissolve Dáil Éireann: 1989 and 1994. In the first instance, the newly elected Dáil failed to elect a Taoiseach when it first met (and at a number of meetings afterward). The incumbent Taoiseach [[Charles Haughey]] was obliged constitutionally to resign, however, he initially refused to. He eventually tendered his resignation to President [[Patrick Hillery]] and remained as Taoiseach in an acting capacity. At the fourth attempt, the Dáil eventually re-elected Haughey as Taoiseach. Had he requested a dissolution, it would probably have been accepted by the President on the grounds that the Dáil could not form a Government, but the President would have also been within his rights to refuse it. It is thought that Haughey chose not to do so but instead to go into a historic coalition because of poor opinion polls showing his [[Fianna Fáil]] party would lose seats in a second General Election.

In 1994, [[Albert Reynolds]] resigned as Taoiseach when the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] left a coalition with Fianna Fáil, but did not request a dissolution, in order that his successor in Fianna Fáil might forge a new coalition with Labour. Labour, however, went into Government with the main opposition party, [[Fine Gael]]. It has been speculated that the President at the time, [[Mary Robinson]], would not have allowed a dissolution had Reynolds requested one. To date, no President has ever refused a dissolution.

One feature of the Irish system is that although the Dáil is dissolved, the [[Seanad Éireann]] (the Senate) is not, and may continue to meet during an election campaign for the Dáil. However, as many members of the Seanad are typically involved in election campaigns for the Dáil, the Seanad does not typically meet often, if at all, once the Dáil is dissolved. A general election for the Seanad must take place within 90 days of the election of the new Dáil.

== Italy ==
In [[Italy]] the [[President of Italy|President]] has the authority to dissolve [[Parliament of Italy|Parliament]], and consequently call for new [[Elections in Italy|elections]], until which the powers of the old parliament [[Lame duck session|are extended]]. However, the President loses this authority during the [[Semestre bianco|last six months]] of his seven years term, unless that period coincides at least in part with the final six months of the Parliament's five years term, as stated in Article 88 of the [[Constitution of Italy|Constitution]]:<ref>{{cite web|title=The Italian Constitution |url=http://www.quirinale.it/page/costituzione|publisher=The official website of the Presidency of the Italian Republic |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127152449/http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/costituzione/pdf/costituzione_inglese.pdf |archive-date=2016-11-27 }}</ref>

:"In consultation with the presiding officers of Parliament, the President may dissolve one or both Houses of Parliament. The President of the Republic may not exercise such right during the final six months of the presidential term unless said period coincides in full or in part with the final six months of Parliament."

In practice, after the resignation of the [[Cabinet of Italy|Government]], which can be freely decided by the [[Prime minister of Italy|Prime Minister]], or can be caused by a [[vote of no confidence]] by the Parliament, or after general elections, the President has to consult the speakers of the Houses, the delegations of the [[parliamentary group]]s and [[senators for life]] trying to find someone who might be appointed Prime Minister and lead a new Government with the confidence of both the Houses. The President dissolves Parliament only if the groups fail to find an agreement to form a majority coalition.
Therefore, the actual power of dissolution is in practice shared also by the Parliament, political parties and by the outgoing Prime Minister, if he still has an influence on them.

Since the Constitution has been in force (1948), the Italian Parliament was dissolved 8 times before its 5-year term: in 1972, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1994, 1996, and 2008.

== Israel ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
In [[Israel]], early elections to the [[Knesset]] can be called before the scheduled date of
the third Tuesday in the Jewish month of [[Cheshvan]] (late September through early November) four years following the previous elections if the Prime Minister calls early elections with Presidential approval due to gridlock, if no government is formed after 42 days of consultation with parties' floor leaders in the Knesset, if the budget is not approved by the Knesset by March 31 (3 months after the start of the fiscal year), or if half of the Knesset members vote in favor of early elections. This call for early elections is legally termed "Dissolution of the Knesset".

However, strictly speaking, the Knesset is only truly dissolved {{spaced ndash}}in the sense of being unconstituted and all MKs losing their seats{{spaced ndash}} automatically 14 days after elections, simultaneously with the start of the newly elected Knesset's term.

== Japan ==
In [[Japan]], the [[House of Representatives of Japan|House of Representatives]] of the [[National Diet]] (parliament) can be dissolved at any time by the [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]], on the advice of the [[Cabinet of Japan|Cabinet]], headed by the [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]]. The [[Constitution of Japan]] specifies that all members of the House can serve up to a four-year term. So far, however, parliaments have been dissolved prematurely with the exception of the 9 December 1976 dissolution.<ref name="japanconstitution">{{cite web |url=http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html |title=The Constitution of Japan |publisher=Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet |date=November 3, 1946 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214104438/http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html |archive-date=2013-12-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[House of Councillors (Japan)|House of Councillors]] however, cannot be dissolved but only closed, and may, in times of national emergency, be convoked for an emergency session. Its members serve a fixed six-year term, with half of the seats, and the [[President of the House of Councillors|Speaker of the Councillors]], up for re-election every three years.<ref name="japanconstitution"/>

The [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] both convokes the Diet and dissolves the House of Representatives, but only does so on the advice of the Cabinet.

== New Zealand ==
The [[Parliament of New Zealand|Parliament]] can be dissolved or prorogued at any time in its 3-year term by the [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor-General]], usually on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]].

== Norway ==
According to the [[Constitution of Norway]], the [[Storting]] (parliament) cannot be dissolved before serving its full four-year term.

== Peru ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
Under the [[Constitution of Peru|Peruvian Constitution of 1993]], the [[President of Peru]] has the authority to dissolve the [[Congress of the Republic of Peru|Congress of Peru]] if a vote of no-confidence is passed three times by the legislative body, and has four months to call for new parliamentary elections or faces impeachment.

The Congress of Peru has been dissolved twice; once in 1992 by President [[Alberto Fujimori]] who performed an [[Coup d'état|auto-coup]] in April 1992 by dismantling both the legislative and judicial branches of government, and once by incumbent President [[Martín Vizcarra]], who [[2019–2020 Peruvian constitutional crisis|dissolved the Congress]] in October 2019 in an effort to end the [[2017–2021 Peruvian political crisis]].

Both of the Presidents were immediately impeached and removed from office by the dissolved Congress, thus being illegitimate.

== Romania ==
According to the [[Constitution of Romania|Romanian Constitution]], voted in 1991 and revised in 2003, the [[President of Romania|President]] may dissolve the [[Parliament of Romania|Parliament]] only if the Parliament rejects two consecutive candidates proposed by the President for the function of [[Prime Minister of Romania|Prime Minister]]. Both houses can be dissolved. No dissolution of the Parliament has taken place in Romania since 1991.

== Russia ==
Under Articles 111 and 117 of the [[Constitution of Russia|Russian Constitution]]<ref>[http://www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-07.htm#111 Constitution of Russia. Chapter 6. The Government of the Russian Federation]</ref> the [[President of Russia|President]] may dissolve the [[State Duma]], the lower house of the [[Federal Assembly (Russia)|Federal Assembly]], if it either expresses [[no confidence]] in the [[Government of Russia]] twice in two months or rejects his proposed candidate for the [[Prime Minister of Russia|Prime Minister]] three times in a row. At the same time, the President cannot dissolve the [[Federation Council (Russia)|Federation Council]], the upper house of the Federal Parliament. The power to dissolve the [[State Duma]] was not exercised under the current constitution of 1993. Before the new constitution was enacted, President [[Boris Yeltsin]] had dissolved the [[Congress of People's Deputies of Russia|Congress of People's Deputies]] and [[Supreme Soviet of Russia]] during the [[Russian constitutional crisis]] of 1993,<ref>[https://archive.today/20120709055004/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2751/is_n34/ai_14940693 Yeltsin: shadow of a doubt - Boris Yeltsin | National Interest, The | Find Articles at BNET.com]</ref> although he did not have the formal constitutional powers to do so.

== Spain ==
In [[Spain]], legislatures last 4 years, so after that time, the [[King of Spain]] dissolves the [[Cortes Generales]].
However, the [[Prime Minister of Spain]], with previous deliberation on the cabinet, can dissolve the Cortes.
As an exception, if after 2 months of an unsuccessful president-investment, there is no president; the King dissolves the Cortes.

== United Kingdom ==

=== Parliament of the United Kingdom ===
{{main|Dissolution of the Parliament of the United Kingdom}}
Under the [[Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011]], as amended, [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] is dissolved automatically 25 working days ahead of a [[Elections in the United Kingdom#Summary|general election]]. Elections ordinarily take place five years after the previous general election, but may be held sooner if the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] loses a vote of confidence, or if two-thirds of the members of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] vote in favour of an early election.
=== Northern Ireland Assembly ===
{{See also|Northern Ireland Assembly#Composition{{!}}Northern Ireland Assembly § Composition}}
The Assembly can vote to dissolve itself early by a [[two-thirds majority]] of the total number of its members. It is also automatically dissolved if it is unable to elect a [[First Minister and deputy First Minister]] (effectively joint first ministers, the only distinction being in the titles) within six weeks of its first meeting or of those positions becoming vacant.

=== Scottish Parliament ===
Under section 2 of the [[Scotland Act 1998]], ordinary general elections for the [[Scottish Parliament]] are held on the first Thursday in May every four years ([[Scottish parliamentary election, 1999|1999]], [[Scottish parliamentary election, 2003|2003]], [[Scottish Parliament election, 2007|2007]] etc.) The date of the poll may be varied by up to one month either way by the monarch on the proposal of the [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament|Presiding Officer]]. However, section 4 of the [[Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011]] postponed the general election that would have been held on 7 May 2015 to 5 May 2016 to avoid it coinciding with the UK General election fixed under that Act.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/14/section/4/enacted Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, section 4]</ref>

Under section 3 of the Scotland Act 1998, if the Parliament itself resolves that it should be dissolved (with at least two-thirds of the Members voting in favour), or if the Parliament fails to nominate one of its members to be [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] within certain time limits, the Presiding Officer proposes a date for an extraordinary general election and the Parliament is dissolved by the monarch by [[royal proclamation]].

=== National Assembly for Wales ===
Under the [[Wales Act 2014]], ordinary general elections to the [[National Assembly for Wales|National Assembly]] are held the first Thursday in May every five years. This extension from a four- to five-year term was designed to prevent Assembly elections clashing with general elections to the Westminster Parliament subsequent to the [[Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011]].

== United States ==
{{See also|Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Clause_3:_Convening_and_adjourning_of_Congress|label 1=Article II, Section 3, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution|Prorogation#United_States|label 2=Prorogation of Congress in the United States}}
In 1774 after the [[Boston Tea Party]], the [[Province of Massachusetts Bay|Massachusetts Bay Province]]'s legislature was dismissed under the [[Massachusetts Government Act]] and the colony was placed under [[martial law]] under the command of General [[Thomas Gage]]. In practice, the majority of the colony came under the ''[[de facto]]'' control of the unrecognized [[Massachusetts Provincial Congress]], and General Gage's attempts to suppress widespread dissent along the colonists directly lead to the [[Battles of Lexington and Concord]] and the beginning of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution|title=American Revolution {{!}} Causes, Battles, Aftermath, & Facts|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-01-26}}</ref>

The [[United States Constitution]] does not allow for the dissolution of [[United States Congress|Congress]], instead allowing for prorogation by the [[President of the United States]] when Congress is unable to agree on a time of adjournment. The delegates to the [[Constitutional Convention (United States)|Constitutional Convention]] of 1787 agreed on the need to limit presidential authority to prevent a return to [[autocracy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/the-american-founders-made-sure-the-president-could-never-suspend-congress-122703|title=The American Founders made sure the president could never suspend Congress|last=Gould|first=Eliga|website=The Conversation|language=en|access-date=2020-01-26}}</ref> In ''[[Federalist No. 69]]'', [[Alexander Hamilton]] stressed that unlike the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|King of Great Britain]], the President does not have the authority to dismiss Congress at his preference.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed69.asp|title=The Avalon Project : Federalist No 69|website=avalon.law.yale.edu|access-date=2020-01-26}}</ref> To date, the presidential authority to prorogue Congress has never been used, although in 2020 President [[Donald Trump]] threatened to use it in order to make [[recess appointment]]s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/trump-threatens-to-adjourn-congress-to-push-through-nominees-189120|title=Trump threatens to adjourn Congress to push through nominees|first=John|last=Bresnahan|work=Politico|date=April 15, 2020|access-date=January 17, 2021}}</ref>

==Venezuela==
The [[Constitution of Venezuela|Bolivarian Constitution of Venezuela]] authorizes, through various articles, the [[President of Venezuela|President of the Republic]] to dissolve the [[National Assembly (Venezuela)|National Assembly]].

Article 236 of the Constitution establishes which are the functions to be performed by the first national president; Paragraph 23 of this section states that one of the powers of the president is: "Dissolve the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution."

In statement 240 explains that will dissolve the Parliament when in a same constitutional period the Assembly approve the removal of the vice president of the country by means of [[Motion of no confidence|censure]], three times.

It is also clarified that the decree of dissolution of the Venezuelan congress entails the call for elections for a new legislature, which must be held in the next 60 days. In addition, this section indicates that the Parliament can not be dissolved during the last year of its constitutional period.

In the [[2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis]], the [[Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Venezuela)|Supreme Tribunal of Justice]] dissolved the National Assembly and transferred its legislative powers to itself. The decision was viewed by the [[Democratic Unity Roundtable|Venezuelan opposition]] and many members of the international community, including the United States, [[Mercosur]], and the [[Organization of American States]], as a [[self-coup]] by President [[Nicolás Maduro]]. After several days, the decision was reversed on the advice of President Maduro.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/30/americas/venezuela-dissolves-national-assembly/index.html|title=Venezuela's high court dissolves National Assembly|last=Editor|first=Rafael Romo, Senior Latin American Affairs|website=CNN|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Graham-Harrison|first1=Emma|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/19/venezuela-crisis-deepens-maduro-strips-opposition-held-parliament-power|title=President Maduro strips Venezuela's parliament of power|date=2017-08-19|work=The Observer|access-date=2020-04-16|last2=López|first2=Virginia|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/04/01/venezuela-high-court-reverses-move-strip-congress-power/99904910/|title=Venezuela high court reverses move to strip congress' power|last=Sanchez|first=Hannah Dreier and Fabiola|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref>

== In fiction ==

* In the 1977 science fiction film [[Star Wars (film)|''Star Wars'']] the [[Palpatine|Emperor]] dissolves the Senate of the [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]], itself rendered a [[Rubber stamp (politics)|rubber stamp]] after his seizure of power in the former [[Galactic Republic]], after the beginning of the [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)#Galactic Civil War|Galactic Civil War]] and growing sympathy for the [[Rebel Alliance]] in the Senate. Each of the planets in the Empire are left under the control of regional governors, with fear of the newly created [[Death Star]] to prevent dissent and ensure the planets' continued allegiance to the Empire.
* The 2014 play [[King Charles III (play)|''King Charles III'']] and the [[King Charles III (film)|2017 television adaptation of the same name]] center around [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]] withholding [[royal assent]] to a parliamentary bill restricting [[Freedom of the press#United Kingdom|freedom of the press]] after becoming [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|King]] and then dissolving the British Parliament after it attempts to abolish the royal assent, leading to a [[constitutional crisis]] which forces Charles to abdicate in favor of his son [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|Prince William]].

== See also ==
* [[Snap election]]

== References ==
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[[Category:Parliamentary procedure]]

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Dissolution of parliament