| Democratic rights of citizens |
3. Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein. |
| Maximum duration of legislative bodies |
4. (1) No House of Commons and no legislative assembly shall continue for longer than five years from the date fixed for the return of the writs of a general election of its members. |
| Continuation in special circumstances |
4. (2) In time of real or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection, a House of Commons may be continued by Parliament and a legislative assembly may be continued by the legislature beyond five years if such continuation is not opposed by the votes of more than one-third of the members of the House of Commons or the legislative assembly, as the case may be. |
| Annual sitting of legislative bodies |
5. There shall be a sitting of Parliament and of each legislature at least once every twelve months |
