What does the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 establish regarding general elections?

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 establishes a clear framework for when general elections should occur in the UK. Specifically, it set a norm of holding general elections every five years, which introduced a significant change from the previous system where the Prime Minister could call for elections at their discretion.

One of the key provisions is that snap elections can only be called in certain circumstances, primarily requiring a two-thirds majority in the House of Commons for an early election to be approved. This provision was designed to prevent the government from manipulating election timing for political gain, promoting stability and predictability in the electoral process.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the stipulations of the Act. For example, the notion of mandatory elections every year is incorrect, as is the idea that election dates could still be solely called by the Prime Minister without going through the parliamentary process that the Act delineates. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the legal requirement introduced by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act that imposes specific conditions under which early elections can be called, ensuring greater accountability and fairness in the electoral process.