ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on some legal and political issues in the history of the life of Parliament in the later modern period. It aims to promote a better understanding of present-day principles and practices in the regulation of the existence of Parliament. Parliament lives and dies as the Crown commands. Despite the modern principles of constitutional monarchy and ministerial responsibility, what remains in both politics and law is executive domination over the life of Parliament. The central constitutional issue in the life of Parliament during the past one hundred and fifty years has concerned the political control over dissolution. The feudal prerogative theory of Parliament as a personal great council of the Monarch to be consulted when he or she pleases has evolved into the virtually unlimited political power of a Prime Minister to set the date of general elections.
