Dissolution under the Exclusive Control of External Forces

The question of dissolution may lie completely beyond the control of the legislature. In some countries, a national referendum may compel legislative dissolution. More commonly, however, dissolution occurs by decision of the executive. In some countries, the executive is free to dissolve the legislature under any circumstances. In others, the possibility of dissolution by the executive may arise only under defined circumstances. It is also possible that an executive’s decision to dissolve the legislature requires the support of a national referendum. A Practical Limit to Dissolution by the Executive: Finally, it is important to note that in some countries the dissolution of the legislature entails the removal of the president or prime minister from office. On a practical level, this system acts as a deterrent to unnecessary dissolution and therefore indicates a slightly greater level of legislative autonomy than other legislatures that are vulnerable to dissolution by independent decision of the executive.