His Majesty’s Stationery Office
Parliament Act 2015
8, 9 & 10 Max. c. 2
An Act to consolidate and amend various enactments regarding Parliament; to empower His Majesty to summon Parliament to meet while prorogued; to make provision regarding the rule of quorum in, and the Standing Orders of, the Houses of Parliament; and for related purposes.
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Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1. Maximum duration of Parliament
Whenever Parliament has not been dissolved within three years of the day appointed for its meeting, it shall be then dissolved, without any letters patent, proclamation or other instrument or action by His Majesty.2. Minimum duration of Parliamentary session
Parliament shall not be prorogued or dissolved within thirty days of the day appointed for its meeting, unless both Houses assent thereto, and any letters patent, proclamation or other instrument or action purporting to prorogue or dissolve Parliament in contravention of this section shall be void.3. Summoning of Parliament while prorogued
While Parliament is prorogued, His Majesty may, by letters patent under the Great Seal of the Realm, summon Parliament to meet on the third day after the date of the letters patent or any later day, and Parliament shall thereupon stand prorogued to that day, notwithstanding its previous prorogation to a later day.4. Issue of writs
(1) Not less than seven days before the day appointed for the meeting of Parliament, His Majesty shall issue to every person entitled to be a Lord of Parliament a writ of summons to attend the House of Lords.
(2) Where a person becomes entitled to be a Lord of Parliament during the continuance of a Parliament, His Majesty shall promptly issue to him or her a writ of summons to attend the House of Lords.
(3) If His Majesty fails to issue any writ of election or writ of summons pursuant to this or any other Act, the Lord Chancellor shall issue the writ in His Majesty’s name, without any further warrant or direction from His Majesty.
5. Quorum in the Houses of Parliament
The quorum of each House of Parliament shall be three members of that House or, if the number of members is less than three, the whole number of members. No Question shall be decided by either House unless a quorum have voted (or expressly abstained from voting) thereon.6. Proceedings under Electronic Communication Acts 2009–2022
Where either House of Parliament transacts business pursuant to the Electronic Communication Act 2009, or by means of a facility designated for that purpose under the Electronic Communication Act 2022, section 5 shall not apply to that House, but no Question shall be decided by the House until five days have elapsed since the putting of the Question.7. King’s consent to bills
For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that His Majesty’s consent is not necessary to the consideration of any bill in Parliament affecting His Majesty’s Royal prerogative or the rights or interests of the Crown.8. Presentation of bills for Royal Assent
No bill shall be presented to His Majesty for his Royal Assent which has not received the final approval in identical form of both Houses of Parliament.9. Standing Orders
(1) The Standing Orders of each House of Parliament shall continue in force until amended or rescinded, notwithstanding the prorogation or dissolution of Parliament.
(2) If, in the opinion of the presiding officer of either House of Parliament, any Standing Order or other order of that House has effect so as to entirely obstruct or prevent the transaction of business by that House, the presiding officer may rescind that order.
(3) In this section, “presiding officer” means,—
(a) in relation to the House of Lords, the Lord Chancellor; and
(b) in relation to the House of Commons, the Speaker or (if that office is vacant) the Deputy Speaker.
10. Repeals
The Acts referred to in the Schedule are repealed to the extent specified in column 3.11. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Parliament Act 2015.Schedule
Repeals
| 1 & 2 Max. c. 4 | Parliament Act 2008 | Section 2 |
| 2, 3 & 4 Max. c. 6 | Parliament Act 2009 | The entire Act |
| 2, 3 & 4 Max. c. 11 | Parliament (No. 2) Act 2009 | The entire Act |
| 5, 6 & 7 Max. c. 1 | Parliament (Prolongation) Act 2012 | The entire Act |
| 5, 6 & 7 Max. c. 5 | Representation of the People Act 2014 | Sections 21 and 23(2) and (3) |