Appendix 11: Parliaments Since 1867 and Number of Sitting Days
The length of a Parliament is calculated from the date set for the return of the writs following a general election to its dissolution by the Governor General by speech or proclamation. The Constitution Act, 1867, s 50, and the Constitution Act, 1982, ss 4(1) and 5, provide for a maximum five-year lifespan for the House of Commons from the date fixed for the return of the writs.1 A Parliament is divided into sessions. A session begins with a Speech from the Throne when Parliament is summoned by proclamation of the Governor General; it ends with a prorogation or dissolution of Parliament. A session is divided into sittings and adjournments. A sitting is a meeting of the House within a session. The Standing Orders of the House of Commons provide times and days for the sittings of the House. A sitting is not necessarily synonymous with a “day”. Some days may contain more than one sitting; some sittings may extend over more than one day.2
Parliament Session | Date of General Election3 | Date for Return of Writs | Date of Opening | Last Day on Which the House Sat | Date of Prorogation | Date of Dissolution | Number of Calendar Days | Number of Sittings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session |
07-08-1867
|
06-11-1867 15-04-1869 15-02-1870 15-02-1871 11-04-1872 |
22-05-1868 22-06-1869 12-05-1870 14-04-1871 14-06-1872 |
22-05-1868 22-06-1869 12-05-1870 14-04-1871 14-06-1872 |
08-07-1872 |
87 51 68 43 47 |
83 49 62 43 46 |
|
2nd Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
20-07-1872
|
05-03-1873 23-10-1873 |
13-08-1873 07-11-1873 |
13-08-1873 07-11-1873 |
02-01-1874 |
60 11 |
59 11 |
|
3rd Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session |
22-01-1874
|
26-03-1874 04-02-1875 10-02-1876 08-02-1877 07-02-1878 |
26-05-1874 08-04-1875 12-04-1876 28-04-1877 10-05-1878 |
26-05-1874 08-04-1875 12-04-1876 28-04-1877 10-05-1878 |
17-08-1878 |
44 52 48 62 75 |
42 48 46 59 67 |
|
4th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
17-09-1878
|
21-11-1878
|
13-02-1879 12-02-1880 09-12-1880 09-02-1882 |
15-05-1879 07-05-1880 21-03-1881 17-05-1882 |
15-05-1879 07-05-1880 21-03-1881 17-05-1882 |
18-05-1882 |
68 63 72 73 |
64 57 65 68 |
5th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
20-06-1882
|
07-08-1882
|
08-02-1883 17-01-1884 29-01-1885 25-02-1886 |
25-05-1883 19-04-1884 20-07-1885 02-06-1886 |
25-05-1883 19-04-1884 20-07-1885 02-06-1886 |
15-01-1887 |
79 76 132 72 |
73 67 119 65 |
6th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
22-02-1887
|
07-04-1887
|
13-04-1887 23-02-1888 31-01-1889 16-01-1890 |
23-06-1887 22-05-1888 02-05-1889 16-05-1890 |
23-06-1887 22-05-1888 02-05-1889 16-05-1890 |
03-02-1891 |
50 66 68 91 |
49 61 65 81 |
7th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session 6th Session |
05-03-1891
|
25-04-1891
|
29-04-1891 25-02-1892 26-01-1893 15-03-1894 18-04-1895 02-01-1896 |
30-09-1891 09-07-1892 01-04-1893 23-07-1894 22-07-1895 23-04-1896 |
30-09-1891 09-07-1892 01-04-1893 23-07-1894 22-07-1895 23-04-1896 |
24-04-1896 |
106 93 49 89 68 86 |
102 87 47 89 68 73 |
8th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session |
23-06-1896
|
13-07-1896
|
19-08-1896 25-03-1897 03-02-1898 16-03-1899 01-02-1900 |
05-10-1896 29-06-1897 13-06-1898 11-08-1899 18-07-1900 |
05-10-1896 29-06-1897 13-06-1898 11-08-1899 18-07-1900 |
09-10-1900 |
37 70 92 107 121 |
34 75 97 101 117 |
9th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
07-11-1900
|
05-12-1900
|
06-02-1901 13-02-1902 12-03-1903 >10-03-1904 |
23-05-1901 15-05-1902 24-10-1903 >10-08-1904 |
23-05-1901 15-05-1902 24-10-1903 10-08-1904 |
29-09-1904 |
76 65 162 106 |
73 62 155 103 |
10th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
03-11-1904
|
15-12-1904
|
11-01-1905 08-03-1906 22-11-1906 28-11-1907 |
20-07-1905 13-07-1906 27-04-1907 20-07-1908 |
20-07-1905 13-07-1906 27-04-1907 20-07-1908 |
17-09-1908 |
132 90 97 159 |
128 88 94 148 |
11th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session |
26-10-1908
|
03-12-1908
|
20-01-1909 11-11-1909 17-11-1910 |
19-05-1909 04-05-1910 28-07-1911 |
19-05-1909 04-05-1910 29-07-1911 |
29-07-1911 |
86 106 122 |
84 102 117 |
12th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session 6th Session 7th Session |
21-09-1911
|
07-10-1911
|
15-11-1911 21-11-1912 15-01-1914 18-08-1914 04-02-1915 12-01-1916 18-01-1917 |
01-04-1912 06-06-1913 12-06-1914 22-08-1914 15-04-1915 18-05-1916 20-09-1917 |
01-04-1912 06-06-1913 12-06-1914 22-08-1914 15-04-1915 18-05-1916 20-09-1917 |
06-10-1917 |
80 125 106 5 51 90 136 |
75 121 103 5 51 88 135 |
13th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session |
17-12-1917
|
27-02-1918
|
18-03-1918 20-02-1919 01-09-1919 26-02-1920 14-02-1921 |
23-05-1918 07-07-1919 10-11-1919 01-07-1920 04-06-1921 |
23-05-1918 07-07-1919 10-11-1919 01-07-1920 04-06-1921 |
04-10-1921 |
51 95 51 89 84 |
47 93 50 86 79 |
14th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
06-12-1921
|
14-01-1922
|
08-03-1922 31-01-1923 28-02-1924 05-02-1925 |
27-06-1922 30-06-1923 19-07-1924 27-06-1925 |
27-06-1922 30-06-1923 19-07-1924 27-06-1925 |
05-09-1925 |
75 98 97 101 |
75 98 95 98 |
15th Parliament 1st Session |
29-10-1925
|
07-12-1925
|
07-01-1926 |
01-07-1926 |
02-07-1926 |
115 |
111 |
|
16th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
14-09-1926
|
02-11-1926
|
09-12-1926 26-01-1928 07-02-1929 20-02-1930 |
14-04-1927 11-06-1928 14-06-1929 30-05-1930 |
14-04-1927 11-06-1928 14-06-1929 30-05-1930 |
30-05-1930 |
54 94 83 62 |
54 93 83 62 |
17th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session 6th Session |
28-07-1930
|
18-08-1930
|
08-09-1930 12-03-1931 04-02-1932 06-10-1932 25-01-1934 17-01-1935 |
22-09-1930 03-08-1931 26-05-1932 27-05-1933 03-07-1934 05-07-1935 |
22-09-1930 03-08-1931 26-05-1932 27-05-1933 03-07-1934 05-07-1935 |
14-08-1935 |
12 96 78 119 105 97 |
13 96 78 119 105 97 |
18th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session 6th Session |
14-10-1935
|
09-11-1935
|
06-02-1936 14-01-1937 27-01-1938 12-01-1939 07-09-1939 25-01-1940 |
23-06-1936 10-04-1937 01-07-1938 03-06-1939 13-09-1939 25-01-1940 |
23-06-1936 10-04-1937 01-07-1938 03-06-1939 13-09-1939
|
25-01-1940 |
91 62 102 103 6 1 |
91 62 102 103 6 1 |
19th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session 6th Session |
26-03-1940
|
17-04-1940
|
16-05-1940 07-11-1940 22-01-1942 28-01-1943 27-01-1944 19-03-1945 |
05-11-1940 21-01-1942 27-01-1943 26-01-1944 31-01-1945 16-04-1945 |
05-11-1940 21-01-1942 27-01-1943 26-01-1944 31-01-1945 16-04-1945 |
16-04-1945 |
61 105 124 120 138 19 |
61 105 124 120 136 19 |
20th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session |
11-06-1945
|
09-08-1945
|
06-09-1945 14-03-1946 30-01-1947 05-12-1947 26-01-1949 |
18-12-1945 31-08-1946 17-07-1947 30-06-1948 30-04-1949 |
18-12-1945 31-08-1946 17-07-1947 30-06-1948 30-04-1949 |
30-04-1949 |
76 118 115 119 59 |
76 118 115 119 59 |
21st Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session 6th Session 7th Session |
27-06-1949
|
25-08-1949
|
15-09-1949 16-02-1950 29-08-1950 30-01-1951 09-10-1951 28-02-1952 20-11-1952 |
10-12-1949 30-06-1950 29-01-1951 09-10-1951 29-12-1951 20-11-1952 14-05-1953 |
10-12-1949 30-06-1950 29-01-1951 09-10-1951 29-12-1951 20-11-1952 14-05-1953 |
13-06-1953 |
64 90 17 104 56 87 108 |
64 90 17 104 56 87 108 |
22nd Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session |
10-08-1953
|
08-10-1953
|
12-11-1953 07-01-1955 10-01-1956 26-11-1956 08-01-1957 |
26-06-1954 28-07-1955 14-08-1956 08-01-1957 12-04-1957 |
26-06-1954 28-07-1955 14-08-1956 08-01-1957 12-04-1957 |
12-04-1957 |
139 140 153 5 71 |
139 140 152 5 71 |
23rd Parliament 1st Session |
10-06-1957
|
08-08-1957
|
14-10-1957 |
01-02-1958 |
01-02-1958 |
78 |
78 |
|
24th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session 5th Session |
31-03-1958
|
30-04-1958
|
12-05-1958 15-01-1959 14-01-1960 17-11-1960 18-01-1962 |
06-09-1958 18-07-1959 10-08-1960 29-09-1961 18-04-1962 |
06-09-1958 18-07-1959 10-08-1960 29-09-1961
|
19-04-1962 |
93 127 146 175 65 |
93 127 146 174 65 |
25th Parliament 1st Session |
18-06-1962
|
18-07-1962
|
27-09-1962 |
05-02-1963 |
06-02-1963 |
72 |
72 |
|
26th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session |
08-04-1963
|
08-05-1963
|
16-05-1963 18-02-1964 05-04-1965 |
21-12-1963 02-04-1965 30-06-1965 |
21-12-1963 03-04-1965
|
08-09-1965 |
117 248 53 |
117 248 53 |
27th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
08-11-1965
|
09-12-1965
|
18-01-1966 08-05-1967 |
08-05-1967 23-04-1968 |
08-05-1967
|
23-04-1968 |
253 155 |
250 155 |
28th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
25-06-1968
|
25-07-1968
|
12-09-1968 23-10-1969 08-10-1970 17-02-1972 |
22-10-1969 07-10-1970 16-02-1972 01-09-1972 |
22-10-1969 07-10-1970 16-02-1972
|
01-09-1972 |
198 138 242 91 |
198 138 242 91 |
29th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
30-10-1972
|
20-11-1972
|
04-01-1973 27-02-1974 |
26-02-1974 08-05-1974 |
26-02-1974
|
09-05-1974 |
207 50 |
206 50 |
30th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session |
08-07-1974
|
31-07-1974
|
30-09-1974 12-10-1976 18-10-1977 11-10-1978 |
12-10-1976 17-10-1977 10-10-1978 26-03-1979 |
12-10-1976 17-10-1977 10-10-1978
|
26-03-1979 |
343 176 151 98 |
343 175 151 98 |
31st Parliament 1st Session |
22-05-1979
|
11-06-1979
|
09-10-1979 |
14-12-1979 |
14-12-1979 |
49 |
49 |
|
32nd Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
18-02-1980
|
10-03-1980
|
14-04-1980 07-12-1983 |
30-11-1983 29-06-1984 |
30-11-1983
|
09-07-1984 |
611 116 |
591 116 |
33rd Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
04-09-1984
|
24-09-1984
|
05-11-1984 30-09-1986 |
24-07-1986 30-09-1988 |
28-08-1986
|
01-10-1988 |
308 390 |
308 389 |
34th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session |
21-11-1988
|
12-12-1988
|
12-12-1988 03-04-1989 13-05-1991 |
30-12-1988 08-05-1991 23-06-1993 |
28-02-1989 12-05-1991
|
08-09-1993 |
12 256 269 |
11 249 269 |
35th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
25-10-1993
|
15-11-1993
|
17-01-1994 27-02-1996 |
02-02-1996 25-04-1997 |
02-02-1996
|
27-04-1997 |
278 164 |
278 164 |
36th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
02-06-1997
|
23-06-1997
|
22-09-1997 12-10-1999 |
11-06-1999 20-10-2000 |
18-09-1999
|
22-10-2000 |
243 136 |
243 133 |
37th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session |
27-11-2000
|
18-12-2000
|
29-01-2001 30-09-2002 02-02-2004 |
21-06-2002 07-11-2003 14-05-2004 |
16-09-2002 12-11-2003
|
23-05-2004 |
211 153 55 |
211 153 55 |
38th Parliament 1st Session |
28-06-2004
|
19-07-2004
|
04-10-2004 |
28-11-2005 |
29-11-2005 |
159 |
159 |
|
39th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
23-01-2006
|
13-02-2006
|
03-04-2006 16-10-2007 |
20-06-2007 20-06-2008 |
14-09-2007
|
07-09-2008 |
175 117 |
175 117 |
40th Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session |
14-10-2008
|
04-11-2008
|
18-11-2008 26-01-2009 03-03-2010 |
04-12-2008 10-12-2009 25-03-2011 |
04-12-2008 30-12-2009
|
26-03-2011 |
13 128 149 |
13 128 149 |
41st Parliament 1st Session 2nd Session |
02-05-2011
|
23-05-2011
|
02-06-2011 16-10-2013 |
18-06-2013 19-06-2015 |
13-09-2013
|
02-08-2015 |
275 235 |
272 235 |
42nd Parliament 1st Session |
19-10-2015
|
09-11-2015
|
03-12-2015
|