Houses of Parliament

THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT

Parliament was dissolved on Thursday, August 13, 2020

Below are some ‘Facts about Dissolution’ to help to explain what this means for Parliamentary activities.

FACTS ABOUT DISSOLUTION

v  Dissolution refers to the official end of a Parliamentary term.

v  Although the Parliament has been dissolved, the Prime Minister and other Ministers and the Leader of the Opposition will continue in their respective roles until the Governor-General makes new appointments. (See Sections 71 and 80 of the Constitution of Jamaica.) Likewise, when the Parliament is dissolved the President and Deputy President, and Speaker and Deputy Speaker continue to hold office until new Members are elected to those offices. (See Sections 42(4)(b) and 43 (4)(b) of the Constitution of Jamaica.)

v  At dissolution, as with prorogation, all activities of both Houses come to a halt, including activities of all Sessional and Select Committees.  Matters on the Table of both Houses “fall off”, but unlike prorogation, upon dissolution there is no possibility for revival in the next Parliament; all matters that were outstanding at dissolution would have to be laid afresh and addressed as new matters.  This is in keeping with the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty, whereby one Parliament cannot bind or be bound by the actions of another Parliament.

* Prorogation refers to the end of the parliamentary session, usually at the end of the legislative year.