parliamentary system II

Parliamentary System

System of government with power in the hands of the cabinet selected by the prime minister

Prime Minister

Chief political executive in a parliamentary system

Head of State

Ensures that a government is in place and invites an individual to be prime minister

Withdraws Confidence

When the legislature no longer supports the government and it resigns

Governor-General

Determines if another government can be drawn from the legislature or if new elections are needed

Constitutional Rules

Limits the options for the Governor-General in a lack of confidence situation

Party Discipline

Constrains the possibility of support in parliament and ensures uniform and predictable behavior of party members

Strong Parties

Incentivized by parliamentary government and provide support for leaders

Political Party

Organizes and structures support for leaders in a parliamentary system

Party Whip

Ensures party members vote in a block as determined by the party leadership

Majority Government

When one party wins a majority of seats in the legislature and has the confidence of the legislature

Minority Government

A party without a majority attempting to govern as if it has a majority

First-Past-The-Post

Plurality voting system that enhances the possibility of a majority government

Aberrations

Assumption in a majoritarian system that minority governments are temporary and the next election will restore a one-party majority

Election

May be called if a government loses the confidence of the legislature or if the head of state believes another party is capable of governing