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A minority government is characterized by a ruling party or coalition that commands a majority of seats in the legislature.
Answer: False
The defining characteristic of a minority government is precisely the absence of a majority of seats in the legislature for the ruling party or coalition.
In Westminster systems, the opposition party typically has the first opportunity to form a government after an election, regardless of the incumbent's status.
Answer: False
Conventionally, the incumbent government, even if it has lost its majority, retains the first opportunity to attempt to form a government and secure the confidence of the legislature.
A common misconception is that the party winning the most seats automatically has an absolute right to govern.
Answer: True
While the party with the most seats has the best chance of forming a government, it does not possess an absolute right; survival in confidence votes is the critical factor.
A 'demissionary' cabinet in the Netherlands is functionally the same as a minority government.
Answer: False
A demissionary cabinet functions as a caretaker government with limited powers, distinct from a minority government which continues to exercise full governmental authority.
A 'hung parliament' is a situation where one party wins an overwhelming majority of seats.
Answer: False
A 'hung parliament' signifies a situation where no single party or coalition commands an outright majority of seats.
A coalition government involves parties formally sharing executive power, while confidence and supply involves only parliamentary support.
Answer: True
This accurately distinguishes the formal power-sharing of coalitions from the parliamentary support provided in confidence and supply agreements.
According to the definition provided, what characterizes a minority government?
Answer: The ruling party or coalition lacks a majority of seats in the legislature.
The fundamental characteristic of a minority government is that the governing party or coalition does not command a majority of seats in the legislature, necessitating external support for legislative passage.
In Westminster systems, who typically gets the first chance to form a government after an election?
Answer: The incumbent government, even if it lost its majority.
By convention in Westminster systems, the incumbent government is usually given the first opportunity to attempt to form a government and secure the confidence of the legislature.
What is a common misconception about the party with the most seats forming a government?
Answer: That it has an absolute right to govern.
A prevalent misconception is that winning the most seats grants an automatic right to govern; however, the critical factor is the ability to survive confidence votes.
What does the term 'hung parliament' signify?
Answer: A parliament where no single party or coalition has won an outright majority of seats.
A 'hung parliament' indicates a legislative outcome where no single party or coalition holds a majority of seats, often leading to minority or coalition governments.
What is the primary difference between a coalition government and a minority government relying on confidence and supply?
Answer: Coalition parties formally join the cabinet; confidence and supply parties only offer parliamentary support.
The fundamental distinction lies in executive participation: coalition parties share cabinet posts, whereas confidence and supply partners provide legislative support without joining the government.
Simple plurality electoral systems, according to Duverger's Law, tend to make minority governments more common.
Answer: False
Duverger's Law suggests that simple plurality systems tend to favor larger parties and reduce the likelihood of minority governments by encouraging two-party dominance.
What is the general effect of simple plurality electoral systems on the occurrence of minority governments?
Answer: They decrease the likelihood of minority governments forming compared to proportional representation.
Simple plurality systems, as explained by Duverger's Law, tend to consolidate votes among fewer parties, making majority governments more probable and minority governments less frequent compared to proportional representation systems.
Which law is mentioned as explaining the rarity of minority governments in plurality systems?
Answer: Duverger's Law
Duverger's Law is cited as the principle explaining why simple plurality electoral systems tend to reduce the prevalence of minority governments by encouraging a two-party system.
Minority governments are inherently less stable than majority governments because they must constantly negotiate legislative support.
Answer: True
The necessity for continuous negotiation and the vulnerability to confidence votes render minority governments inherently less stable than those commanding a legislative majority.
Minority governments do not face significant challenges in passing legislation, as other parties are usually willing to cooperate.
Answer: False
Minority governments face substantial challenges in legislation, requiring constant negotiation and facing the risk of proposals being defeated or amended significantly.
Belgium requires a government to secure a majority of all elected members in the Chamber of Representatives to gain confidence.
Answer: False
In Belgium, a government typically needs a majority of the votes cast, not necessarily a majority of all elected members, which can facilitate minority government formation through abstentions.
'Jumping majorities' refers to a stable coalition that consistently supports a minority government on all issues.
Answer: False
'Jumping majorities' describes a situation where a minority government secures support from different legislative groups for different issues, rather than relying on a stable, unified bloc.
Minority governments in the UK's Westminster system are generally perceived as stable and effective.
Answer: False
Minority governments in the UK are typically viewed as unstable and face significant challenges in legislative passage and maintaining confidence.
Flexibility during crises is cited as a primary advantage of minority governments.
Answer: True
The capacity for adaptive responses, particularly during periods of crisis, is identified as a potential advantage stemming from the need for broader consultation inherent in minority governance.
Dismissal of a minority government typically requires only a simple majority of votes cast, similar to its formation in some systems.
Answer: False
Dismissal often requires a higher threshold, such as an absolute majority of the assembly's total members, making removal more difficult than initial formation in some contexts.
In Belgium, the abstention of parties is crucial for minority governments to achieve the necessary majority of votes cast.
Answer: True
Abstention by non-supporting parties allows a government to achieve the required majority of votes cast, facilitating the formation and continuation of minority governments in Belgium.
A party with the most seats in a minority situation gains stability primarily because other parties are obligated to support it.
Answer: False
Stability arises from the potential for other parties to abstain, allowing the largest party to survive confidence votes, rather than from an obligation to support.
The primary advantage of minority governments is their ability to enact legislation quickly without negotiation.
Answer: False
Minority governments typically face delays and require extensive negotiation to pass legislation, contrary to the notion of enacting it quickly.
What is a key implication for a minority government regarding legislative stability?
Answer: It requires constant negotiation for support and is vulnerable to confidence votes.
The lack of a majority compels minority governments to continuously seek support for legislation and makes them susceptible to confidence challenges, impacting their stability.
The concept of 'jumping majorities' describes a minority government that:
Answer: Secures support from different legislative groups for different issues.
'Jumping majorities' refers to the practice where a minority government obtains support from varying legislative factions on a case-by-case basis, rather than relying on a fixed coalition.
What is cited as a primary advantage of minority governments, particularly during crises?
Answer: Their flexibility as an institutional response.
The inherent need for negotiation and adaptation in minority governments can foster flexibility, which is considered a significant advantage, especially during times of crisis.
What is a significant disadvantage for minority governments concerning their removal from power?
Answer: Dismissal often requires an absolute majority of the assembly's total members, a higher threshold.
A disadvantage is that while formation might require less stringent support, the removal of a minority government often necessitates an absolute majority of the total assembly membership, presenting a higher barrier.
A formal 'confidence and supply' agreement can provide a minority government with stability comparable to a majority government.
Answer: True
Such agreements, by ensuring support on critical votes, can significantly enhance the parliamentary stability of a minority administration.
France's Fifth Republic constitution provides tools like Article 49.3 to *prevent* minority governments from passing legislation easily.
Answer: False
Article 49.3 of the French constitution is designed to strengthen the executive, allowing governments to pass legislation without a vote unless a no-confidence motion succeeds, thereby aiding minority governments.
Germany's 'constructive vote of no confidence' mechanism has historically made federal minority governments very common.
Answer: False
While the constructive vote of no confidence theoretically enhances stability, federal minority governments have remained rare in Germany.
The 'support' column in tables of minority governments lists parties formally part of the governing coalition.
Answer: False
The 'support' column indicates seats from parties *outside* the coalition that provide parliamentary backing, not those formally in government.
The 'Total' column in tables of minority governments shows the number of seats held by the governing coalition.
Answer: False
The 'Total' column represents the total number of seats in the legislature, not just those held by the governing coalition.
France's Article 49.3 is primarily used to dissolve parliament and call for new elections.
Answer: False
Article 49.3 allows the government to pass legislation without a vote unless a no-confidence motion is successful, rather than dissolving parliament.
The 'Support' column indicates the total number of seats in the legislature.
Answer: False
The 'Support' column denotes seats from non-coalition parties providing backing, whereas the 'Total' column indicates the overall legislative seats.
Confidence and supply agreements require supporting parties to hold cabinet positions in the minority government.
Answer: False
A key feature of confidence and supply is that supporting parties do not typically hold cabinet positions, distinguishing it from a formal coalition.
The 'support' column in the table of current minority governments indicates the number of seats from parties *outside* the governing coalition that provide backing.
Answer: True
This column specifically quantifies the parliamentary support provided by parties not formally part of the governing coalition.
How can a minority government enhance its stability?
Answer: By securing a formal 'confidence and supply' agreement with other parties.
Formal 'confidence and supply' agreements provide a structured basis for parliamentary support, significantly enhancing the stability of a minority government.
What mechanism does France's Fifth Republic constitution provide to strengthen minority governments?
Answer: Article 49.3, allowing legislation passage without a vote unless a no-confidence motion succeeds.
Article 49.3 empowers the government to pass legislation by default, unless challenged by a successful no-confidence motion, thereby bolstering minority administrations.
In the context of minority governments, what does 'confidence and supply' typically entail?
Answer: An agreement for parliamentary support on confidence motions and supply bills, without joining the government.
Confidence and supply agreements involve parties providing parliamentary support on confidence votes and budgetary matters, without participating in the executive cabinet.
Which of the following is a constitutional tool mentioned that helps bolster minority governments in France?
Answer: Article 49.3
Article 49.3 of the French constitution provides a mechanism for the government to pass legislation without a vote, unless a no-confidence motion is successfully passed.
What does the 'support' column in the table of current minority governments typically represent?
Answer: The number of seats provided by parties not in the coalition but offering parliamentary backing.
The 'support' column quantifies the seats contributed by parties outside the governing coalition that provide essential parliamentary backing.
Which country's system requires a 'constructive vote of no confidence', theoretically enhancing stability but still seeing rare minority governments?
Answer: Germany
Germany employs a 'constructive vote of no confidence' mechanism, which, despite its stabilizing intent, has not historically led to frequent federal minority governments.
What does the 'Total' column in the table of current minority governments represent?
Answer: The total number of seats in the legislature.
The 'Total' column indicates the overall number of seats comprising the legislature within which the minority government operates.
What does the 'support' column signify in relation to the 'Total' seats for minority governments?
Answer: It indicates the seats from non-coalition parties backing the government, relative to the legislature's total size.
The 'Support' column details the seats provided by external parties offering parliamentary backing, contextualized against the 'Total' legislative seats.
Canadian federal minority governments have historically lasted for extended periods, often exceeding five years.
Answer: False
Canadian federal minority governments are typically short-lived, averaging around 18 months, reflecting their inherent instability.
Australia formed its first federal minority government since 1940 following the 2010 federal election.
Answer: True
The 2010 Australian federal election resulted in a hung parliament, leading to the formation of the nation's first minority government in over seven decades.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) formed a majority government after the 2007 Scottish Parliament election.
Answer: False
The SNP won the most seats in 2007 but did not achieve an overall majority, leading to the formation of a minority government.
Coalition governments have become the norm in Ireland, making minority governments historically uncommon.
Answer: False
Historically, minority governments have been quite common in Ireland, although coalition governments have become the norm in more recent decades.
Theresa May's government became a minority government in 2017 after losing its majority in the House of Commons.
Answer: True
Following the 2017 general election, the Conservative Party led by Theresa May lost its majority, necessitating the formation of a minority government supported by a confidence and supply agreement.
The 'Opposition Agreement' in the Czech Republic involved the ruling party forming a coalition with the main opposition party.
Answer: False
The 'Opposition Agreement' was a pact that allowed a minority government to govern with the parliamentary support of the main opposition party, rather than forming a formal coalition.
The 'Ensemble!' coalition in France has consistently held an overall majority in the National Assembly since 2022.
Answer: False
The 'Ensemble!' coalition has governed without an overall majority in the National Assembly since the 2022 legislative elections, necessitating minority government status.
The 2021 Scottish election initially resulted in a majority government for the Scottish National Party (SNP).
Answer: False
The 2021 Scottish election resulted in the SNP forming a minority government initially, before later forming a coalition with the Scottish Greens.
Harold Wilson's UK government in the 1970s was consistently a majority government throughout his tenure.
Answer: False
Harold Wilson's Labour government in the 1970s experienced periods of both minority and majority status, notably relying on a pact with the Liberals and later losing its majority.
The 2019 UK general election resulted in a strong majority for Boris Johnson's Conservative Party.
Answer: True
The 2019 UK general election yielded a substantial majority for the Conservative Party under Boris Johnson, concluding a period of minority government.
The Bute House Agreement involved a power-sharing pact between the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Scottish Greens.
Answer: True
The Bute House Agreement formalized a power-sharing arrangement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens in Scotland.
In Wales, the 2007 election resulted in a majority government led by Welsh Labour.
Answer: False
The 2007 Welsh election resulted in Welsh Labour forming a minority government, which subsequently allied with Plaid Cymru.
The 'dubious' note next to Brazil's entry indicates that its government is definitively classified as a minority administration.
Answer: False
The 'dubious' notation suggests uncertainty regarding the classification or accuracy of seat numbers for Brazil's government, not definitive classification as a minority administration.
The Second Rutte cabinet in the Netherlands achieved a majority in the Senate through a budgetary agreement with other parties.
Answer: True
The Second Rutte cabinet secured a Senate majority via a budgetary agreement with specific supporting parties, despite not holding a majority outright.
Miloš Zeman's cabinet (1998-2002) in the Czech Republic successfully governed as a minority government due to an 'Opposition Agreement'.
Answer: True
The 'Opposition Agreement' facilitated the governance of Miloš Zeman's minority cabinet by securing the parliamentary support of the main opposition party.
Eduard Heger's government in Slovakia lost its majority when the ruling coalition expanded its membership.
Answer: False
Eduard Heger's government transitioned to a minority status when a coalition partner withdrew, not when the coalition expanded.
Sweden has historically relied on strong majority governments, with minority administrations being extremely rare.
Answer: False
Sweden has a notable history of minority governments, often led by major parties and relying on support from others.
John Major's government in the UK maintained a strong majority throughout the 1990s.
Answer: False
John Major's Conservative government experienced a gradual erosion of its majority, eventually becoming a minority government by the mid-1990s.
In Canada, incumbent governments that lose their plurality typically attempt to form a minority government.
Answer: False
In the Canadian federal system, incumbent governments losing their plurality typically resign rather than attempting to form a minority government.
The 2022 French legislative elections resulted in President Macron's coalition securing an absolute majority.
Answer: False
The 2022 French legislative elections resulted in President Macron's coalition losing its absolute majority, leading to a minority government situation.
The 2016 Scottish election led to the SNP losing its governing majority, resulting in a minority government.
Answer: True
Following the 2016 election, the SNP lost its majority, necessitating the formation of a minority government which subsequently cooperated with the Scottish Greens.
The Great Coalition in Canada's history led to the formation of a minority government in 1864.
Answer: False
The Great Coalition of 1864 in Canada was instrumental in achieving Confederation, not in forming a minority government in the modern sense.
The First Cabinet of Mirek Topolánek in the Czech Republic successfully passed its confidence vote.
Answer: False
The First Cabinet of Mirek Topolánek, a minority government, failed to secure a confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies.
The suspension of the Bute House Agreement by Humza Yousaf led to the SNP government reverting to a minority status.
Answer: True
The suspension of the Bute House Agreement by Humza Yousaf resulted in the SNP government losing its coalition support and reverting to a minority position.
In Ireland, minority governments have historically been less common than coalition governments.
Answer: False
Historically, minority governments have been quite common in Ireland, although coalition governments have become the norm in more recent decades.
Which country's 2010 federal election resulted in a hung parliament and Australia's first minority government since 1940?
Answer: Australia
The 2010 Australian federal election led to a hung parliament and the formation of Australia's first minority government since 1940.
Which of the following is listed as a sub-national entity with a minority government?
Answer: The state government of New South Wales, Australia
The provided data lists several sub-national entities with minority governments, including the state government of New South Wales, Australia.
How did Theresa May's government in the UK become a minority government in 2017?
Answer: By losing its majority in the House of Commons in the 2017 general election.
Theresa May's Conservative government lost its majority in the 2017 general election, resulting in the formation of a minority government.
What was the 'Opposition Agreement' in the Czech Republic between 1998-2002?
Answer: An agreement allowing Miloš Zeman's minority cabinet to govern with support from the main opposition party (ODS).
The 'Opposition Agreement' was a political arrangement that enabled Miloš Zeman's minority government to function through the parliamentary support of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS).
Historically, minority governments have been common in which European country, despite coalitions now being the norm?
Answer: Ireland
Ireland has a historical precedent of common minority governments, although coalition governments have become more prevalent in recent times.
The 2021 Scottish election initially led to the SNP forming what type of government?
Answer: A minority government.
Following the 2021 Scottish election, the SNP secured the most seats but not an overall majority, initially forming a minority government.
In the Canadian federal system, what is the typical outcome if an incumbent government loses its plurality?
Answer: It typically resigns from office.
In Canada, incumbent governments that lose their plurality generally resign rather than attempting to form a minority government.
The 2022 French legislative elections resulted in a situation where:
Answer: Macron's coalition lost its majority, leading to a minority government.
The 2022 French legislative elections led to President Macron's coalition losing its absolute majority, resulting in the formation of a minority government.
What does the 'dubious' note next to Brazil's entry imply?
Answer: The classification of Brazil's government as minority or the provided seat numbers are uncertain.
The 'dubious' notation indicates uncertainty regarding the precise classification of Brazil's government as a minority administration or the accuracy of the associated seat data.
How did the Second Rutte cabinet in the Netherlands achieve a majority in the Senate?
Answer: Through a budgetary agreement with specific other parties.
The Second Rutte cabinet secured a majority in the Dutch Senate by entering into a budgetary agreement with certain parties, rather than through a formal coalition.
The First Cabinet of Mirek Topolánek in the Czech Republic (2006-2007) was notable because it:
Answer: Was a minority government that failed to pass a confidence vote.
The First Cabinet of Mirek Topolánek was a minority government that notably failed to secure a confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies.
What is the historical context of minority governments in Sweden?
Answer: They have been common, often led by Social Democrats or centre-right alliances.
Sweden possesses a significant history of minority governments, frequently led by major parties like the Social Democrats or centre-right alliances, which rely on external parliamentary support.
The Bute House Agreement in Scotland was a pact between which two parties?
Answer: Scottish National Party (SNP) and Scottish Greens
The Bute House Agreement constituted a power-sharing pact between the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Scottish Greens.
Following the 2007 Welsh Assembly election, what was the status of the Welsh Labour Party's government?
Answer: They formed a minority government that later allied with Plaid Cymru.
After the 2007 election, Welsh Labour formed a minority government in the National Assembly for Wales, subsequently entering into an alliance with Plaid Cymru.