Parliamentary occasions - UK Parliament

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href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/budget/">The Budget</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/calendar/">Calendar of sittings</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/stateopening/">State Opening of Parliament</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/prorogation/">Prorogation</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/recallparliament/">Recall of Parliament</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/lcbreakfast/">Lord Chancellor's breakfast</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/lyinginstate/">Lying-in-state</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Parliamentary occasions </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120118052802im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_1076.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/>  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Key business and ceremonial events - both regular and occasional - punctuate the parliamentary year. </p> </div>  <div class="tabs-wrapper parent"> </div> <div id="sub-landing-basic"> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/addresses/">Addresses to Members of Parliament</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>A State visit is often marked by a speech given to Members of both Houses of Parliament by the visiting head of State or Government.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/budget/">The Budget</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Each year the Chancellor of the Exchequer makes a major speech to the House of Commons on the state of the national finances and the Government's proposals for changes to taxation.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/calendar/">Calendar of sittings</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Each Parliament lasts for up to five years and is divided into annual sessions. Parliament sits for regular periods during a session.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/stateopening/">State Opening of Parliament</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The State Opening marks the beginning of the parliamentary session. The monarch formally opens Parliament, delivering an outline of the Government's proposed policies and legislation for the coming session in the Queen's Speech.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/prorogation/">Prorogation</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The end of a parliamentary session is known as prorogation: the period between the end of a session of Parliament and the State Opening of Parliament that begins the next session. </p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/recallparliament/">Recall of Parliament</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>During times when Parliament is not sitting, the Government can ask for the House of Commons to be recalled. The House of Lords is usually recalled at the same time.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/lcbreakfast/">Lord Chancellor's breakfast</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Dating back to the Middle Ages, a service at Westminster Abbey, and a reception at the Houses of Parliament, heralds the start of the legal year</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/lyinginstate/">Lying-in-state</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The formal occasion in which a coffin is placed on view to allow the public to pay their respects to the deceased, usually takes place at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="panel"> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20120118052802/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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Parliamentary occasions - UK Parliament