Part V · General
Article 83 Duration of Houses of Parliament.
In force
This article fixes the duration of the two Houses. The Council of States is not subject to dissolution. About one third of its members retire every second year. The House of the People continues for five years unless sooner dissolved.
- (1) The Council of States shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year in accordance with the provisions made in that behalf by Parliament by law.
- (2) The House of the People, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of the House: Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.
What it means
Plain words summary of the article above. Not legal advice.
This article fixes the duration of the two Houses. The Council of States is not subject to dissolution. About one third of its members retire every second year. The House of the People continues for five years unless sooner dissolved. While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, Parliament may extend the term by law, a year at a time. The extension cannot run more than six months past the emergency.