Editing Parliament of Canada (section)

==Term==
The ''Constitution Act, 1867'', outlines that the governor general alone is responsible for summoning Parliament, though it remains the monarch's [[:Royal prerogative|prerogative]] to [[Prorogation in Canada|prorogue]] and [[dissolution of Parliament|dissolve]] the legislature, after which the [[Writ of election|writs]] for a [[Elections in Canada#National elections|general federal election]] are usually [[Dropping the writ#Canada|dropped by the governor general]] at [[Rideau Hall]]. Upon completion of the election, the governor general, on the advice of the prime minister, then issues a royal [[proclamation]] summoning Parliament to assemble. On the date given, new MPs are sworn in and then are, along with returning MPs, called to the Senate, where they are instructed to elect their speaker and return to the House of Commons to do so before adjourning.{{r|SenatePP|p=42}}[[File:Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip sit on thrones before a full Parliament.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the opening of Parliament, 14 October 1957]]
The new parliamentary session is marked by the [[Opening of the Canadian parliament|opening of Parliament]], a ceremony where a range of topics can be addressed in a [[Speech from the throne|Speech From the Throne]] given by the monarch, the governor general, or a royal delegate.{{NoteTag|On 1 September 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales (later King [[Edward VIII]]) read the Speech From the Throne at the opening of the third session of the [[13th Canadian Parliament]].|name=Open}} The usher of the black rod invites MPs to these events,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.speech.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1367 |author=Government of Canada |author-link=Government of Canada |title=Speech From the Throne > Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |access-date=4 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100309072021/http://www.speech.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1367 |archive-date=9 March 2010 }}</ref> knocking on the doors of the lower house that have been slammed shut<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/compilations/OfficersAndOfficials/ProceduralOfficersAndSeniorOfficials_Senate.aspx |last=Library of Parliament |author-link=Library of Parliament |title=Parliament > Officers and Officials of Parliament > Procedural Officers and Senior Officials > Senate |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |access-date=19 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081201130735/http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/compilations/OfficersAndOfficials/ProceduralOfficersAndSeniorOfficials_Senate.aspx |archive-date=1 December 2008 }}</ref>—a symbolic arrangement designed to illustrate the Commons' right to deny entry to anyone, including even the monarch (but with an exception for royal messengers).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/StateOpeningofParliament/State%20Opening%20of%20Parliament.aspx |author=Royal Household | title=Royal events and ceremonies > State Opening of Parliament | publisher=Queen's Printer | access-date=13 October 2012 }}</ref> Once the MPs are gathered behind the Bar of the Senate—save for the prime minister, the only MP permitted into the Senate proper to sit near the throne dais—the House of Commons speaker presents to the monarch or governor general, and formally claims the rights and privileges of the House of Commons; and then the speaker of the Senate, on behalf of the Crown, replies in acknowledgement after the sovereign or viceroy takes their seat on the throne.{{r|SenatePP|p=42}} The speech is then read aloud. It can outline the program of the [[Cabinet of Canada|Cabinet]] for the upcoming legislative session, as well as other matters chosen by the speaker.

A [[Legislative session|parliamentary session]] lasts until a prorogation, after which, without ceremony, both chambers of the legislature cease all legislative business until the governor general issues another proclamation calling for a new session to begin; except for the election of a speaker for the House of Commons and his or her claiming of that house's privileges, the same procedures for the opening of Parliament are again followed. After a number of such sessions—having ranged from one to seven{{r|SenatePP|p=45}}—a Parliament comes to an end via [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolution]], and a general election typically follows. Subject to the governor general's discretion, general elections are held four years after the previous on the third Monday in October or, on the recommendation of the [[Chief Electoral Officer (Canada)|chief electoral officer]], the following Tuesday or Monday. The governor general may dissolve Parliament and call a general election outside of these fixed dates, conventionally on the advice of the prime minister, which may be preceded by a successful [[motion of no confidence]]. The timing of such dissolutions may be politically motivated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canada Elections Act |url = http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-2.01/page-9.html#h-27 |website=Justice Laws Website |access-date=17 July 2017 |at = Part 5 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |author= Queen Elizabeth II |author-link=Elizabeth II |title=Canada Elections Act |url = http://lois-laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-2.01/page-23.html#h-24 |at=56.1.(2) |date=12 July 2008 |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |access-date=3 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dissolution of Parliament – Compendium of Procedure – House of Commons |url = https://www.ourcommons.ca/About/Compendium/ParliamentaryCycle/c_d_dissolutionparliament-e.htm |access-date=18 July 2017 }}</ref>