proroguing

Prorogation is the formal ending or suspension of a legislative session in a parliamentary system. It ends the current sitting of Parliament and resets the legislative agenda without dissolving the legislature.

In Westminster-style systems, prorogation is typically effected by the head of state on the advice of the prime minister or government. The prorogation ends all business, including bills and committee work; a new session begins with a speech from the throne outlining the government's program.

Prorogation differs from dissolution: prorogation suspends Parliament without elections; dissolution ends the current Parliament and usually triggers a general election; after dissolution, a new Parliament is elected before the next session begins.

Implications: during prorogation, MPs and peers do not meet as a legislature, and pending legislation typically laps. Bills require reintroduction in the next session. Budgets and supply measures must be presented again. Prorogation can be used to reset a legislative agenda, pause debates, or avoid scrutiny, but it can also provoke criticism when used to evade accountability.

Regional practice: prorogation occurs in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India, with procedures varying by constitution and statute. In some jurisdictions, courts or constitutional mechanisms have reviewed the legality or scope of prorogations in controversial cases.