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Prorogation: How did the government suspend Parliament? What is the prorogation of Parliament?
(14 days later)
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the decision to suspend Parliament, only days after MPs returned to Westminster, was unlawful. Parliament is expected to be suspended on Tuesday, ahead of a Queen's Speech - to set out the government's plans - next Monday.
But why was Parliament shut down in the first place? It comes two weeks after the UK Supreme Court said the government's previous attempt to prorogue Parliament was unlawful.
How did the prime minister close Parliament? So, why is the government closing Parliament for a second time?
The official term for shutting down Parliament is "proroguing". What happened last time?
MPs do not vote to prorogue - it's a power that rests with the Queen, done on the advice of the prime minister. The official term for shutting down Parliament is "proroguing". During this period, there are no sittings in the House of Commons, or the House of Lords. That means MPs and peers do not hold debates, or vote on laws.
So, it is within Boris Johnson's gift to ask the Queen to shut Parliament. The decision to prorogue rests with the Queen, done on the advice of the prime minister.
However, even though the Queen agreed to the request, legal proceedings were brought against the government. At the end of August - shortly before MPs returned from their summer recess - Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the Queen to shut Parliament for five weeks, between 9 September until 14 October.
However, on 24 September, the Supreme Court ruled the prorogation unlawful.
The Court's president, Lady Hale, said the suspension "had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justification".
Following the ruling, Parliament reopened the next day.
Why was it controversial?Why was 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. Prorogation is required to prepare for a Queen's Speech, which is held on the day Parliament reopens during a ceremony known as The State Opening of Parliament. The speech allows the government to outline 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.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.But the decision to prorogue - just weeks before the UK's scheduled departure from the EU - brought the Queen into the Brexit dispute.
Critics also said the reason Parliament was shut down was to minimise the opportunities to block a no-deal Brexit. Critics said prorogation was an attempt by the government to minimise Parliament's opportunity to block a no-deal Brexit. That's because MPs would have been prevented from sitting for 24 working days.
The government defended its action, saying it had nothing to do with Brexit. It argued proroguing Parliament was a "proceeding in Parliament" and would allow the PM to outline plans for domestic policies, like NHS funding.
However, the Supreme Court ruled against it. It said prorogation was unlawful because it stopped Parliament from being able to its job "without reasonable justification".
How did the Supreme Court consider the case?
Two of the UK's highest courts, one in England and one in Scotland, had already looked at whether prorogation was legal - only to come to opposite conclusions.
The matter was 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.
Delivering its conclusions, the Supreme Court's president, Lady Hale, said: "The effect on the fundamentals of our democracy was extreme."
She added: "The decision to advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justification."
How long was the government intending to prorogue?
Before the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful, Parliament was due to be suspended for 24 working days. The government had planned to reopened Parliament with a Queen's Speech on 14 October.
That would have been a much longer prorogation than usual. In 2016, for example, Parliament was closed for four working days, while in 2014 it was closed for 13 days.That would have been a much longer prorogation than usual. In 2016, for example, Parliament was closed for four working days, while in 2014 it was closed for 13 days.
Will Parliament be opened? The government defended its action, saying it had nothing to do with Brexit. It argued prorogation was a "proceeding in Parliament" to allow the PM to outline plans for domestic policies, like NHS funding.
Not only was the decision to suspend Parliament unlawful, the Supreme Court also declared that "parliament is not prorogued." However, the Supreme Court said prorogation stopped Parliament from being able to do its job.
This means MPs and peers will be able to sit again. Any laws that did not complete their passage through Parliament will now be resurrected. So why is the government proroguing Parliament again?
The Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, says the chamber "must convene without delay". He says this will be on Wednesday. The Supreme Court's decision does not prevent Mr Johnson from proroguing again, as long as it is done in a way which does not break the law.
He can do so in order to prepare for a Queen's Speech on 14 October.
But rather than shutting Parliament for 24 days, this prorogation will last only three days.