What is a major potential weakness of parliamentary systems related to government stability?

Correct answer: A vote of no confidence can break a majority, leading to new elections or a new government.

Explanation

A key feature and potential weakness of parliamentary systems is that the government's survival depends on maintaining the confidence of the legislature. A successful 'vote of no confidence' can dissolve the government, leading to instability and potential new elections.

Other questions

Question 1

What is the primary function of legislative committees in organizing the work of a legislature?

Question 2

In the United States Senate, what is the procedural practice that allows a legislator to delay or prevent a vote on a piece of legislation by extending debate?

Question 3

According to the text, how many senators must vote in favor of a cloture motion to end a filibuster in the United States Senate?

Question 4

Which model of representation involves a legislator acting based on the preferences of their constituents?

Question 5

What is the key characteristic of a nonprofessional legislature, as exemplified by the Texas Legislature?

Question 6

What annual salary do members of the nonprofessional Texas Legislature earn, according to the text?

Question 7

What type of representation is defined as underrepresented minorities receiving better representation from people with similar demographic characteristics?

Question 8

What is the fundamental difference between a parliamentary system and a presidential system regarding the relationship between the legislative and executive branches?

Question 9

What does Duverger's law state about the effect of electoral systems?

Question 10

In the 2020 United States Senate race in Minnesota, what percentage of the vote did the winning candidate, Tina Smith, secure?

Question 11

What is the primary strength of a unicameral legislature?

Question 12

In the German parliamentary system, the upper chamber, the Bundesrat, is designed to represent the interests of what entities?

Question 13

What is the term for the phenomenon where leaders, particularly executives, expand their powers beyond prior limits and justify these expansions as legitimate and acceptable?

Question 14

What is defined as the phenomenon in which legislatures give power to another branch of government, either by refusing to take action or by approving anything the other branch wants?

Question 15

Approximately what percentage of countries around the world have bicameral legislatures?

Question 16

Which of the following is considered a primary weakness of bicameral legislative systems?

Question 17

What is the term for a challenge threatening legislatures that occurs when people or groups are divided between two extremes on an issue or position?

Question 18

How many ridings, or federal electoral districts, does the Canadian House of Commons represent?

Question 19

In the Parliament of the Bahamas, how are members of the 16-person Senate appointed?

Question 20

What is a key difference between single-member and multimember legislative districts?

Question 21

In the Danish Parliament, or Folketing, what is the number of seats in the largest constituency?

Question 22

The politico model of representation is best described as a balance between which two other models?

Question 23

What is the legislative 'power of the purse'?

Question 24

What is required to amend the Japanese constitution, according to the text?

Question 25

Which electoral system combines features of both proportional representation and plurality voting systems?

Question 26

In the 2020 Irish elections, no single party gained a majority, leading to the formation of a majority coalition by which three parties?

Question 27

In a semi-presidential system, who typically holds policy-making authority?

Question 29

What does partisan representation oblige a legislator to do?

Question 30

What kind of laws concern the relationship between the government and individuals and apply to all people, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act?

Question 31

An electoral system where the relative level of support for political parties in the population is reflected in the legislature is known as what?

Question 32

In the United States, how is a member of the executive or judicial branch removed from office after being impeached by the House of Representatives?

Question 33

What is the term for a system of cooperation between members of the same political party where a legislator can rely on the opinions of members on a relevant policy committee when voting on an issue outside their expertise?

Question 34

Which of the following describes a key role of minority parties in democratic legislatures?

Question 35

According to the text, which country's legislature represents the country as a whole, without any specific geographic divisions for its members?

Question 36

What is the primary method of oversight used by minority parties in parliamentary systems to check the power of the majority party?

Question 37

What is defined as a system where two or more different parties decide to cooperate to form a majority in a legislative chamber?

Question 38

Why are coalition governments considered potentially more fragile than outright majority governments?

Question 39

The legislative process in which ideas come freely from all actors, are debated seriously, and can result in changes is most characteristic of which type of regime?

Question 40

What does a first-past-the-post electoral system require for a candidate to win an election?

Question 41

Which of the following did President Obama use executive action to create, as an example of executive dominance?

Question 42

In a plurality voting system used in a multimember district with three open seats, how is the winner determined?

Question 43

What type of legislature does a professional legislature like the California State Assembly have?

Question 44

What is the primary purpose of holding hearings in the legislative process?

Question 45

The idea that a legislator should use their personal judgment to make policy decisions in the best interest of their constituents is central to which model of representation?

Question 46

What does it mean for a legislature to have a system of parliamentary procedures?

Question 47

In a bicameral system, what is the term for a situation where different political parties hold the majority in each chamber, potentially leading to policy inaction?

Question 48

What is the name of the lower chamber of the Irish legislature?

Question 49

Which of these is NOT a major challenge facing legislatures in the 21st century, as identified in the text?

Question 50

In the context of the legislative process, who is known as a bill's sponsor?