Question

In a parliamentary system, a minimum winning coalition refers to:

a) The largest political party
b) The smallest political party
c) The smallest group of parties that can form a majority
d) The party with the most seats in the opposition

Answer 1

In a parliamentary system, a minimum winning coalition refers to the smallest group of parties that can form a majority in the legislature. It is important for the government to be able to pass legislation and effectively govern.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a parliamentary system, a minimum winning coalition refers to the smallest group of parties that can form a majority in the legislature. In a multi-party situation where no single party has a clear majority, parties often need to join together in coalitions to create a majority in the chamber.

For example, in the 2020 Irish elections, no single party gained a majority. The party that gained the most votes, Fianna Fáil, joined with two supporting parties, Fine Gael and the Green Party, to form a majority coalition.

A minimum winning coalition is important to ensure that the government can pass legislation and effectively govern.