dissolution

Dissolution is the formal ending of a legislative body's term, whether because its term expired naturally or for another constitutional reason.

• When the Lok Sabha or a state assembly is dissolved, all its seats become vacant at once, triggering a fresh general election to fill every seat again.
• The Rajya Sabha is a notable exception — it's designed to never face dissolution at all, with only a third of its members retiring every two years instead of the whole house standing down together.
• A dissolution can happen earlier than a full term if a government loses its majority and no alternative government can be formed, which is why some Lok Sabha terms end well before their scheduled five years are up.
• Understanding dissolution helps explain why some elections are called "mid-term" — they follow an early dissolution rather than the completion of a full, scheduled term.