Part V - Parliament • Article

Article 85 Simplified: Sessions of Parliament, prorogation and dissolution

Article 85 says the Parliament MUST meet regularly. The gap between two sessions cannot be more than 6 months. The President has the power to call (summon) the session, end (prorogue) the session, or end the Lok Sabha's life (dissolve) for a new election.

Official Text

(1) The President shall from time to time summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session. (2) The President may from time to time- (a) prorogue the Houses or either House; (b) dissolve the House of the People.]

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

Parliament cannot just decide on its own when to start working. The President calls them to session (summon), ends a session (prorogue), or ends the Lok Sabha entirely (dissolve). But here's the safety rule: the gap between the last day of one session and the first day of the next must not be more than 6 months — so the government can't just 'hide' from Parliament forever!

Student Mode

Article 85 governs Parliamentary sessions. Key rules: (1) The President summons each House to meet. (2) No more than 6 months can pass between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next. (3) The President can prorogue both or either House. (4) The President can dissolve the Lok Sabha. This article gave rise to the three conventional sessions: Budget (Feb-May), Monsoon (Jul-Aug), and Winter (Nov-Dec) sessions.

Example

This is why we have at least three sessions every year: Budget, Monsoon, and Winter sessions. The government cannot just stop Parliament from meeting for a whole year.

Key Takeaway

Parliament must meet at least twice a year by law.

FAQs

What is the difference between prorogation and dissolution?

Prorogation terminates a session of Parliament; the House can be reassembled. Dissolution terminates the entire life of the Lok Sabha, triggering a general election. The Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved.

Can Parliament meet more than 3 times a year?

Yes. The Constitution only says the gap between sessions cannot exceed 6 months. There is no upper limit on the number of sessions. Emergency sessions can also be called.

Can the Rajya Sabha be dissolved?

No. Article 85 only gives the President the power to dissolve 'the House of the People' (Lok Sabha). The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body.