Quorum

At least fifteen Members of the House including the Speaker must be present in order for the House to meet and exercise its powers. If there is not a quorum then the Speaker may adjourn the House until the next sitting day.

Adjournment

At the end of each sitting day the House adjourns to the next sitting day and all business not completed is deemed to be adjourned and added to the Order Paper for the next day.

Prorogation

Prorogation is the means by which a Session of the Legislature is terminated. This is done by a Proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor on the advice of the Premier. All proceedings and business in progress are terminated and must be reintroduced in the next Session before the Assembly can consider them again. Returns to House Orders ordered by the Assembly that have not been provided prior to prorogation are the only items of usual business not lost at the prorogation.

Dissolution

Dissolution is the means by which the Legislature is terminated before the calling of a general election. The Legislature is statutorily dissolved after five years or before that by a proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor on the advice of the Premier. At this time Members cease to be members and all business of the House and its committees, dies.

House Orders

A House Order is a request for specific material, whether information, documents or correspondence relating to a certain matter. The Member must prepare a notice of motion for a House Order and file it with the Clerk. The Clerk then sends the notice on to the Department concerned and Departmental staff briefs the Minister so that the question is clear before the vote is called in the House. Once the House approves of the House Order it must be completed by the Department concerned.

If a Return to a House Order is not completed and tabled before prorogation of a session the order is still in effect. If dissolution occurs before a return required by a House Order is tabled, it is assumed, as with other uncompleted business of the House, to have expired. The Journals and other records of the House of Assembly keep track of the tabling of a House Order and whether it has been returned.

House of Assembly 

There are 52 seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. The June 13, 2006 general election divided these seats as follows:

Progressive Conservatives 23
New Democrats 20
Liberals 9