Fixed Term Parliament Act
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Public Law!
The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011
- Enacted on September 15 as part of the Coalition’s agreement of constitutional and political reform. This act removes the Executives prerogative power to dissolve
Parliament and states that Parliamentary general elections will instead take place every 5 years under S1. Prior to this, the Septennial Act 1716 extended the maximum duration of Parliament from 3 years to 7 years. Dicey used this as a prime example to illustrate Parliamentary Sovereignty. The Parliament Act 1911 came about from a constitutional crisis by Irish home rule which limited the power of the House Of
Commons.!
- According to Ryan “There is clearly no support in the UK for a completely rigid
Parliamentary system” thus making the act allow a semi-fixed Parliament. This flexibility is reflected in which an early election can be triggered by either; !
1. Passing the motion they will under S2(2) as per S2(1) following the loss of a vote of no confidence !
2. Or as S2(3) details when S2(4) motion is passed (“That this house has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government”). These mechanisms represent a new constitutional power being conferred on the HoC.!
- One issue relating to dissolutions is that it is impractical and disrupts the regularity and integrity of the principle as well. S3(1) states that the dissolution of Parliament cannot be dissolved by anyone but this Act, thus removing the historic Executive prerogative power. The Queens ability to prorogue Parliament is retained however. !
For & Against Fixed-Term Parliaments
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!
!
!
!
1
For
Against
Reduce executive power by denying a PM the inbuilt partisan advantage of determining the date of the next election. Ryan argues that any restriction on the Executive should be welcomed. The HoL Select Committee on the Constitution argued that fixed terms could undermine the democratic process because “in certain
Public Law!
The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011
- Enacted on September 15 as part of the Coalition’s agreement of constitutional and political reform. This act removes the Executives prerogative power to dissolve
Parliament and states that Parliamentary general elections will instead take place every 5 years under S1. Prior to this, the Septennial Act 1716 extended the maximum duration of Parliament from 3 years to 7 years. Dicey used this as a prime example to illustrate Parliamentary Sovereignty. The Parliament Act 1911 came about from a constitutional crisis by Irish home rule which limited the power of the House Of
Commons.!
- According to Ryan “There is clearly no support in the UK for a completely rigid
Parliamentary system” thus making the act allow a semi-fixed Parliament. This flexibility is reflected in which an early election can be triggered by either; !
1. Passing the motion they will under S2(2) as per S2(1) following the loss of a vote of no confidence !
2. Or as S2(3) details when S2(4) motion is passed (“That this house has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government”). These mechanisms represent a new constitutional power being conferred on the HoC.!
- One issue relating to dissolutions is that it is impractical and disrupts the regularity and integrity of the principle as well. S3(1) states that the dissolution of Parliament cannot be dissolved by anyone but this Act, thus removing the historic Executive prerogative power. The Queens ability to prorogue Parliament is retained however. !
For & Against Fixed-Term Parliaments
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1
For
Against
Reduce executive power by denying a PM the inbuilt partisan advantage of determining the date of the next election. Ryan argues that any restriction on the Executive should be welcomed. The HoL Select Committee on the Constitution argued that fixed terms could undermine the democratic process because “in certain