Constitutional Implications of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011

Abstract

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 arose from a specific political circumstance: the need to cement the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition formed after the May 2010 General Election, but it had a far wider significance. The Act had important implications for the constitution, raising questions about the way in which it changes and the nature of its overall development. It brought about transformations long advocated by reformers. The Act reduced the scope of the Royal Prerogative and gave both ‘confidence’ and ‘no confidence’ votes in the House of Commons a statutory footing. It introduced a new parliamentary procedure for triggering early general elections, involving among other measures a supermajority in the House of Commons. The Act was controversial both for its substance and the processes used in its introduction. Regardless of how long it may remain in force, it has already proved to be an important experiment.