Adjournment, Prorogation and Dissolution

Definition

The three ways in which the working of Parliament is suspended or ended: adjournment (a short break in a sitting), prorogation (the end of a session), and dissolution (the end of the life of the Lok Sabha).

Key points

• Adjournment suspends a sitting for hours, days, or sine die (indefinitely) and is done by the Presiding Officer; it does not affect pending business.
• Prorogation ends a session and is done by the President; pending notices lapse but Bills do not.
• Dissolution ends the very existence of the Lok Sabha and is done by the President; it leads to fresh elections.
• The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and is never dissolved; one-third of its members retire every two years.
• On dissolution of the Lok Sabha, most pending Bills lapse, except a Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha that the Lok Sabha has not passed, and certain other categories.

Why it matters for CAPF

The adjournment-prorogation-dissolution sequence, who orders each, and the rule on lapsing of Bills are standard, easily tested parliament facts.

Common confusion

Adjournment is by the Presiding Officer, while prorogation and dissolution are by the President; the Rajya Sabha is never dissolved, unlike the Lok Sabha.

Parent note

parliament