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Minority government

A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or a minority parliament is a government and cabinet formed in a parliamentary system when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the legislature.[1] It is sworn into office, with or without the formal support of other parties, enabling a government to be formed. Under such a government, legislation can only be passed with the support or consent of enough other members of the legislature to provide a majority, encouraging multi-partisanship. In bicameral legislatures, the term relates to the situation in the chamber whose confidence is considered most crucial to the continuance in office of the government (generally, the lower house).

For minority governments in general, see Dominant minority.

A minority government tends to be less stable than a majority government because if they can unite for a purpose, opposing parliamentary members have the numbers to vote against legislation, or even bring down the government with a vote of no confidence. If however the minority government forms supporting partnerships with some parliamentary parties, it can be as stable as majority governments.[2]

Article 44: allows the government to reject proposed amendments that have not been discussed in committee prior to the general discussion (44 paragraph 2); allows the government to ask for a parliamentary chamber to vote on the entirety or a part of a bill while overturning all amendments that have not been proposed or sponsored by the ministers (44 paragraph 3);

Articles 47 and 47-1: if Parliament has not voted on the Government Budget (47) or the Social Security Budget (47-1) within the constitutional time limit (70 days for the Government Budget, 50 days for the Social Security Budget), then the government can implement its budget by decrees;

: allows the government the possibility to avoid a vote of confidence on its program or general policy declaration in the lower house (49 paragraph 1); requires the absolute majority of the lower house's entire membership to pass a motion of no confidence (49 paragraph 2); allows the government to "commit its responsibility" on a bill per parliamentary session (apart from Government and Social Security budgets on which this special power can be used without numerical limit), the bill is considered passed without a vote unless a no-confidence motion is adopted by the lower house, thus effectively treating the bill as an issue of a vote of confidence (49 paragraph 3/49.3)

Article 49

Coalition government

Hung parliament

Majority government

CBC Digital Archives – Minority Report: Governing by Minority in Canada