PART 3

SUMMONING, PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION

SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT

67.- 1. Each session of Parliament shall be held at such place within Trinidad and Tobago and shall commence at such time as the President may by Proclamation appoint.

2. There shall be a session of each House once at least in every year, so that a period of six months shall not intervene between the last sitting of Parliament in one session and the first sitting thereof in the next session.

PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT

68.- 1. The President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may at any time prorogye or dissolve Parliament.

2. Subject to subsection (3), Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution, and shall then stand dissolved.

3. At any time when Trinidad and Tobago is at war, Parliament may extend the period of five years specified in subsection (2) for not more than twelve months at a time; so however that the life of Parliament shall not be extended under this subsection for more than five years.

4. Where, between a dissolution of Parliament and the next ensuing general election of members to the House of Representatives, an emergency arises of such a nature that in the opinion of the Primer Minister, it is necessary for the two Houses to be summoned before that general election can be held, the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may summon the two Houses of the preceding Parliament but the election of members of the House of Representatives shall proceed and the Parliament that has been summoned shall, if not sooner dissolved, again stand dissolved on the day on which the general election is held.

GENERAL ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF SENATORS

69.- 1. A general election of members of the House of Representatives shall be held at such time within three months after every dissolution of Parliament as the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, shall appoint.

2. As soon as practicable after every general election, the President shall proceed under section 40 to the appointment of Senators.

3. Where a vacancy occurs in the House of Representatives within the first four years of the Life of the Parliament a bye-election shall be held to fill such vacancy.