Secondary navigation

Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

Type of Bill:
Government Bill
Sponsors:
Mr Nick Clegg
Cabinet Office
Lord Wallace of Tankerness
Office of the Advocate General for Scotland

Progress of the Bill

Bill started in the House of Commons

  1. House of Commons
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  2. House of Lords
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  3. Consideration of Amendments
  4. Royal Assent

Last event

Act of Parliament

House Act Date
Commons Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 c.14 15.09.2011

Latest news on the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 15 September. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).

Summary of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

The Bill fixes the date of the next General Election at 7 May 2015, and provides for five-year fixed terms. It includes provisions to allow the Prime Minister to alter the date by up to two months by Order. There are also two ways in which an election could be triggered before the end of the five-year term:

  • if a motion of no confidence is passed and no alternative government is found
  • or if a motion for an early general election is agreed either by at least two-thirds of the House or without division

Stay up to date

Keep up to date with the progress of Bills going through Parliament. Sign up for email alerts or use our RSS feeds.

Related information

Guide to the passage of a Bill

Find out what happens at each stage of a Public Bill’s journey through Parliament with the Passage of a Bill guide.

When does a Bill become law?

Explanation of what happens after Bills have been passed, and when laws may change.

Human rights

Do you have expertise or a special interest in human rights? The Joint Committee on Human Rights scrutinises the human rights implications of Government Bills.