Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/232

 I96 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

enacted, that if the king neglected to call a Parliament for three years, the chancellor or keeper of the great seal might issue writs for summoning the peers and for the election of the commons: that if the chancellor or keeper should neglect to do it, any twelve of the peers might summon the Parliament ; that if the peers should neglect to issue the necessary summons, the sheriffs of the counties and other magistrates respectively might proceed to the election : and should they refuse, then that the freeholders of each county might elect their members, and that the members so chosen should be obliged, under severe penalties, to attend. This Act was deemed such an invasion of the prerogative, that it was repealed on the Eestoration by 16 Chas. II. c. 1. But the latter Act contains a provision that Parliament shall not in future be intermitted for above three years at the most. By 1 Will, and Mary, sess. 2, c. 2, it was enacted, ' that Parliaments shall be holden frequently.' As, how- ever, the Mutiny Act and the Budget are only granted for a year, the Crown, since the Eevolution, is compelled to summon a Parliament annually. By ancient right and usage, lying at the foundation of the constitution, the House of Commons has the exclusive control over taxation, and at its will may grant or re- fuse supplies to the Crown.

It has become customary of late for Parliaments to meet in annual session extending over the first six months of the year. Every session must end with a prorogation, and by it all bills which have not been brought to a conclusion fall to the ground. Both Houses of legislature must be prorogued at the same time. The pro- rogation takes place either by the sovereign in person, or by commission from the Crown, or by proclamation. The Lower House appears at the bar, and if the sovereign be present, the speaker reports upon the labours of the session ; the royal assent is then given to bills of the closing session, and a speech from the sovereign is read ; Avhereupon the chancellor prorogues the Parlia- ment to a certain day. Parliament resumes business, however, as soon as it is summoned by royal proclamation on a certain day, which may be at a date earlier than the original date of prorogation appointed. Should the term of prorogation elapse, and no procla- mation be issued, Parliament cannot assemble of its own accord. The royal proclamation which summons Parliament in order to proceed to business must be issued six days before the time of meeting. A dissolution is the civil death of Parliament ; it may occur by the will of the sovereign, expressed in person or by com- missioners, or, as is most usual during the recess, by proclama- tion, or, finally, by lapse of time. Formerly, on the demise of the sovereign, Parliament stood dissolved by the fact thereof; but this was altered in the reign of William III. to the effect of post-