Prorogation of Parliament

A project in the Intersection between The Democracy and Human Rights research programme

 

 

Prorogation refers to the conclusion of a parliamentary session, causing a recess period and effectively terminating all parliamentary business. In the United Kingdom, it is a prerogative power exercised by the Monarch following ministerial advice. While some Westminister systems have broadly retained this constitutional practice (Australia, Canada), others have diverged significantly: some have abolished prorogation altogether (New Zealand) and others have put it on a statutory basis (India). This research project focuses on the constitutional law and conventions surrounding prorogation in the UK and other Westminister systems from a comparative perspective. It hopes to contribute to the on-going debates in this area and develop principled arguments based on democratic constiutional principles.


Related Publications

Stefan Theil Unconstitutional prorogation of Parliament [2020] Public Law 529

Stefan Theil Prorogued until October? How the Prorogation Act 1867 could be used to sideline Parliament for good, Verfassungsblog, 29 August 2019

Stefan Theil Unconstitutional Prorogation, UK Constitutional Law Blog, 3 April 2019