What usually happens if the government loses a confidence vote in the House of Commons?
- Nothing changes until the next fixed date
- The King chooses a new Prime Minister
- The Prime Minister asks the Governor General to call an election
- The Senate takes control
Answer: The Prime Minister asks the Governor General to call an election
The government stays in power only while it has the confidence of a majority of MPs. Votes on major issues such as the budget are matters of confidence. If the government loses one, the Prime Minister usually asks the Governor General, on behalf of the Sovereign, to call an election.
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.