Chapter 7 - Meetings
of the Senate
Opening of a new
session of an existing Parliament
The following procedures are followed for the opening of Parliament
following a prorogation of the Parliament not accompanied by a dissolution of
the House of Representatives or of both Houses (SO 1(2)).
When there is a
President in office, on the first day of a new session of an existing
Parliament the President takes the chair at the appointed hour and the Clerk reads the
proclamation which fixes the date for the assembling of Parliament following
its prorogation. The arrival of the Governor‑General is then announced. The certificate of
election or choice of any senator whose term of office has begun since the last
sitting of the Senate is then laid on the Table by the Clerk, and each such
senator then makes and subscribes the oath or affirmation of
allegiance. The procedure which then follows is the same as at the opening of a
new Parliament following the arrival of the Governor‑General (see above).
If there is no President in office at the opening of a new session of
an existing Parliament the Senate is summoned by proclamation to meet at an
earlier hour (usually in the morning) than the time fixed in the proclamation
for the meeting of the members of the House of Representatives. At the hour
appointed, members of the Senate assemble in the Senate chamber and the Clerk of the Senate
reads the proclamation. The arrival of the deputy of the Governor‑General
is then announced. The deputy produces the commission from the
Governor‑General, which is then read by the Clerk. The deputy then
informs the Senate that the Governor-General will at a future time declare the
cause of calling Parliament together.
The certificate of
election or choice of any senator whose term of office has begun since the last
sitting of the Senate is then laid on the Table by the Clerk, and the deputy
administers the oath or affirmation of allegiance to each such senator. The
deputy then retires and the Senate proceeds to elect a President.
The proceedings which then follow are the same as at the opening of a
new Parliament following the election of the President when that office is
vacant.
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