minority government
Coalition-dependent ruling party
A minority government is one that lacks a majority of seats in the legislature, requiring support from other parties to pass legislation and survive confidence votes.
Common in parliamentary systems with multiple parties, minority governments tend to be less stable and must negotiate constantly to govern: The prime minister formed a minority government after the election produced no clear winner.
National legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- confidenceSelf-assurance or trust
- supplyFurnish or stock
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
cabinet · backbench · sitting · prorogation · dissolution · motion · whip · hung parliament
Formal union of parties
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- blocAllied group sharing interests
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
accord · memorandum · junior partner · kingmaker · power-sharing · cross-party · multiparty · rainbow coalition
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- horse-tradingShrewd, tough negotiating
- concessionsThings granted or yielded
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
- backroomPrivate space for dealings
compromise · give-and-take · case-by-case · arm-twisting · outreach · olive branch · sweetener · trade-off
Dangerously insecure
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- tenuousLacking solid foundation
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
volatility · collapse · crisis · brinkmanship · early election · fall · topple · defeat
parliament
National legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- confidenceSelf-assurance or trust
- supplyFurnish or stock
opposition · cabinet · backbench · sitting · prorogation · dissolution · motion · whip · hung parliament · balance of power
alliance
Formal union of parties
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- blocAllied group sharing interests
- pactFormal agreement between parties
arrangement · accord · memorandum · junior partner · kingmaker · power-sharing · cross-party · multiparty · rainbow coalition · grand bargain
bargaining
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- horse-tradingShrewd, tough negotiating
- concessionsThings granted or yielded
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
backroom · compromise · give-and-take · case-by-case · arm-twisting · outreach · olive branch · sweetener · trade-off · logrolling
precarious
Dangerously insecure
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- tenuousLacking solid foundation
- vulnerableOpen to attack
uncertainty · volatility · collapse · crisis · brinkmanship · early election · fall · topple · defeat · survival
- Canadian GovernmentHouse of Commons, Senate, Prime Minister, parliamentary democracy, Bank of Canada
- German PoliticsBundesrat, CSU, Nazi Party, Greens, federal republic
- QuebecQuebec City, Montreal, premier, National Assembly, premiers
- Canadian ParliamentHouse of Commons, Senate, Parliament Hill, MP, senator
- Canadian PoliticsPierre Trudeau, Justin Trudeau, premier, legislature, MLA
- European PoliticsEU, European Parliament, European Union, EU Commission, eurozone
minority governmentmajority government
Single party holds legislative control
minor, government, majority, minority, minorities, minored, minoring