POL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Lower House, Upper House, Westminster System
Document Summary
Parliamentary: had two house, house of commons (lower house) and senate (upper house), house of commons members are voted, leader of party with larger votes becomes prime. The crown (governor general) then asks the winning party to form a government. Majority government (party that wings more than 170 seats). Minority government (more votes than any other party, but less that 170) Weaker, can never claim support of majority of population. Coalition government (no party holds majority, but largest party wants to enter a coalition with another party to create a majority government) Allows for stronger government, due to strength in numbers, However, both parties must compromise (such as give up cabinet members to the other) Always the potential that a coalition will fall apart, allowing for a new election: no set schedules for elections (no con dent vote, opposition calls it, coalition falls apart, Opposition will only call an election if they think they can win.
