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Prorogation: How did the government suspend Parliament? | |
(7 days later) | |
The UK Supreme Court is due to rule on whether the decision to suspend Parliament, only days after MPs returned to Westminster, was legal. | |
But why was Parliament shut down in the first place? | |
How did the prime minister close Parliament? | |
The official term for shutting down Parliament is "proroguing". | The official term for shutting down Parliament is "proroguing". |
MPs do not vote to prorogue - it's a power that rests with the Queen, done on the advice of the prime minister. | MPs do not vote to prorogue - it's a power that rests with the Queen, done on the advice of the prime minister. |
So, it is within Boris Johnson's gift to ask the Queen to shut Parliament. | |
However, even though the Queen agreed to the request, legal proceedings were brought against the government. | |
While prorogation is normal, the timing of it in this case is "clearly hugely controversial", says Maddy Thimont-Jack, of the Institute for Government think tank. | |
Why is it controversial? | |
Normally, after a period of prorogation, Parliament reopens with a Queen's Speech. This is when the government outlines its priorities for the upcoming year. | |
Usually, this process is extremely straightforward. In fact, the House of Commons Library says proroguing has been a formality in the UK for more than a century. | |
But the decision to prorogue - just weeks before the UK's scheduled departure from the EU - brought the Queen into the Brexit dispute. | |
The government defended its action, saying it had nothing to do with Brexit. It says proroguing Parliament will allow the PM to outline plans for domestic policies like NHS funding. | |
Opponents, on the other hand, say it is a ruse. The real reason Parliament was shut down, they argue, was to minimise the opportunities to block a no-deal Brexit. | |
However, despite having less Parliamentary time, MPs succeeded in passing a law that seeks to extend the Brexit deadline. | |
How often does prorogation happen? | |
Parliament is normally prorogued once a year for a short period - usually in April or May. | Parliament is normally prorogued once a year for a short period - usually in April or May. |
During this time all business stops and most laws that haven't completed their passage through Parliament die a death. | |
MPs keep their seats and ministers remain in position - but no debates and votes are held in Parliament. | MPs keep their seats and ministers remain in position - but no debates and votes are held in Parliament. |
This is different to "dissolving" Parliament - where all MPs give up their seats to campaign in a general election. | This is different to "dissolving" Parliament - where all MPs give up their seats to campaign in a general election. |
It is also different to a recess - a break in the Parliamentary session - which was due to take place this year from roughly 13 September to 8 October. | It is also different to a recess - a break in the Parliamentary session - which was due to take place this year from roughly 13 September to 8 October. |
How long will be Parliament be prorogued? | |
This year, Parliament is due to be suspended for 24 working days before the new Queen's Speech on 14 October. | |
That's much longer than usual. In 2016, for example, Parliament was closed for four working days, while in 2014 it was closed for 13 days. | |
Could prorogation be stopped? | Could prorogation be stopped? |
Two of the UK's highest courts, one in England and one in Scotland, have already looked at whether prorogation was legal - only to come to opposite conclusions. | |
The matter will now be settled by the UK Supreme Court. | |
It heard two appeals over three days, one from the anti-Brexit campaigner and businesswoman Gina Miller, and one from the government. | |
Ms Miller was appealing the English High Court's decision to reject her challenge to prorogation. | |
The government, on the other hand, was appealing the ruling from Scotland's Court of Session that the prorogation was "unlawful" and had been used to "stymie" Parliament. | |
The challenge to prorogation in the Scottish Court was brought by 75 parliamentarians, including SNP MP Joanna Cherry. | |
The Supreme Court will make its ruling on Tuesday. | |
So could the government be ordered to reopen Parliament? | So could the government be ordered to reopen Parliament? |
If the Supreme Court judges rule that prorogation is legal, then Parliament will remain shut until 14 October - unless the government advises the Queen to change the date. | |
If Ms Miller's side wins, it's still unclear how and when Parliament would resume - whether MPs could simply return to the Commons, or if they would need to be recalled by The Queen, on the advice of Mr Johnson. | |