What is a minority government?
- A government elected by less than half of the provinces
- A government formed by a minority group
- A government with no Cabinet
- The governing party holds less than half of the seats in the House of Commons
Answer: The governing party holds less than half of the seats in the House of Commons
A minority government means the party in power holds less than half of the seats in the House of Commons. Like any government, it runs the country only as long as it keeps the support, or confidence, of a majority of MPs.
Learn more: After an election: forming a government
- Ordinarily, the Governor General invites the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons to form the government.
- After being appointed by the Governor General, that party leader becomes the Prime Minister.
- Majority government: the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons.
- Minority government: the party in power holds less than half of the seats in the House of Commons.
- The Prime Minister and the party in power govern as long as they have the support, or confidence, of a majority of MPs.
- A vote on a major issue such as the budget is a matter of confidence.
- If a majority of MPs vote against a major government decision, the party in power is defeated.
- A defeat usually leads the Prime Minister to ask the Governor General, on behalf of the Sovereign, to call an election.