If a majority of MPs vote against a major government decision, what happens to the party in power?
- It gains extra seats
- It is defeated
- Nothing changes
- The Senate takes over
Answer: It is defeated
The party in power governs only while it has the confidence of a majority of MPs. If a majority votes against a major decision, such as the budget, the government is defeated. This usually leads the Prime Minister to ask the Governor General 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.