Adjournment
At the end of each sitting day, the House of Assembly is adjourned to the next day or another future day or to the call of the Speaker. In the latter case, the Speaker recalls the House on the request of the Premier. As long as the House is in session, its members determine when it sits.

Assembly
A new Assembly commences after each general election. An Assembly ends upon its dissolution by the Lieutenant Governor, on the request of the Premier, or upon the expiry of the maximum time it is permitted to continue by law -- approximately five years. A general election follows.

Cabinet
The Executive Council is commonly called the Cabinet. Provincially, the two terms are synonymous. Whereas federally, not all members of the Privy Council are members of the federal cabinet.

Common Law
The common law comprises the legal principles, as articulated by the courts, that derive from ancient custom in England. Common law is sometimes divided into the common law (or simply "the law") and equity.

Crown
The Crown is Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Province.

Dissolution
The House of Assembly is dissolved by the Lieutenant Governor at the request of the Premier. Dissolution ends the current session and Assembly and results in a general election.

Executive Council
The ministers of the Crown comprise the Executive Council, commonly known as the Cabinet. The President of the Executive Council is known as the Premier.

Government
The Government of the Province consists of the Lieutenant Governor acting in the name of the Crown with the advice and consent of the Executive Council.

Governor
The Lieutenant Governor, so-called to distinguish the position from that of the Governor General of Canada, is commonly referred to as the Governor.

Governor in Council
The Governor in Council is the Government of the Province and consists of the Lieutenant Governor acting in the name of the Crown with the advice and consent of the Executive Council.

House of Assembly
The House of Assembly consists of 52 members elected by the people of the Province. It is one of the two parts of the Legislature.

Legislative Assembly
The legislative assembly is the elected body of 52 members forming part of the Legislature. In Nova Scotia, the legislative assembly is officially called the House of Assembly.

Legislative Council
The Legislative Council was abolished in 1928. This appointed body was part of the Legislature.

Legislative Counsel
The legislative counsel are the legal advisers to the House of Assembly. They are the law clerks and are officers of the House.

Legislature
The Legislature consists of the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly. The Legislature makes the laws of the Province.

Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor is the Governor of the Province, carrying on the Government of the Province on behalf of the Crown, and is one of the two parts of the Legislature. In carrying on the Government, the Lieutenant Governor acts only with the advice and consent of the Executive Council and thus is referred to as the Governor in Council when acting in that capacity.

Order in Council
The decisions of the Governor in Council are implemented by order in council.

Premier
The President of the Executive Council is usually called the Premier.

President of the Executive Council
The President of the Executive Council presides over the Executive Council.

Prorogation
The Lieutenant Governor ends a session by proroguing the House of Assembly. The House may not sit once it has been prorogued until it has been called into session again by the Governor in Council.

Session
A new session begins upon the summoning of the members of the House of Assembly by the Lieutenant Governor and begins with a speech from the throne. The House cannot sit until its members have been summoned. The Lieutenant Governor may end the session at any time by proroguing the House and, in that case, the House cannot sit again until its members are summoned to start a new session. A session may also be ended by the dissolution of the House. In present practice, the House is only prorogued immediately before the commencement of a new session.

Speaker
The Speaker presides over the House of Assembly and is the representative of the House.

Speech from the Throne
Each session begins with a speech read by the Lieutenant Govenor in which is set out the Government's agenda for the session.