HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

does not apply to a dissolution, when all select committee activity
must cease); 1
impeachments by the Commons which may be carried on from one
session to another and from one Parliament to another. The
jurisdiction of the Lords in such impeachments has fallen into disuse. 2
2.16 Government public bills may also be “carried over” from one
session to the next. See paragraph 8.08.
Demise of the Crown
2.17 A demise of the Crown no longer brings a session or a Parliament
to an end. 3
2.18 The Succession to the Crown Act 1707 4 provides that in the
event of the demise of the Crown, Parliament, if adjourned or prorogued,
must meet as soon as possible 5 and if sitting must immediately proceed
to act without any summons in the usual form.
2.19 By the Representation of the People Act 1985, 6 in case of the
demise of the Crown after the dissolution of one Parliament and the
proclamation summoning the next, but before the election, the election
and the meeting of Parliament are postponed by fourteen days. If the
demise occurs on or after the date of the election, Parliament meets in
accordance with the proclamation summoning the next Parliament.
2.20 When Parliament meets under either of these Acts, there is no
speech from the Throne. All members of both Houses take the oath of
allegiance to the new Sovereign. In the course of a few days a message
under the Sign Manual is sent formally acquainting the House with the
death of the Sovereign, and stating such other matters as may be
necessary. The House votes an Address to the new Sovereign in answer
to the message, expressing condolences upon the death of his
predecessor and loyalty to him upon his accession.
1 SO 64.
2 See Erskine May, p. 73.
3 Representation of the People Act 1867, s. 51.
4 s. 5.
5 Notice of the time of meeting is given by any means available.
6 s. 20.
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