Dissolution is the official term for the end of a Parliament.
After the Fixed Term Parliament Act was passed on 15 September 2011, the date of the next general election is set at 7 May 2015. The act provides for general elections to be held on the first Thursday in May every five years. There are two provisions that trigger an election other than at five year intervals.
- A motion of no confidence is passed in Her Majesty's Government by a simple majority and 14 days elapses without the House passing a confidence motion in any new Government formed
- A motion for a general election is agreed by two thirds of the total number of seats in the Commons including vacant seats (currently 434 out of 650)
Further information on this subject can be found from the following links.
About Parliament: Dissolution of Parliament
About Parliament: Swearing In
Background information - An Introduction to Parliament: Elections
Related glossary term: General election