Single Party, minority and coalition governments

Question 1

Since 1945 how many governments have we had where there has been a government with a majority of less than 20 or no majority at all?

Answer 1

4

Question 2

What are the 4 strengths of having a single party government

Answer 2

• It pinpoints political responsibility
• It is associated with the formation of strong, stable and durable administrations
• We know which party after the election will become government
• coalitions have disadvantages

Question 3

How does a single party government pinpoint political responsibility?

Answer 3

The voters know which party to praise or blame and therefore pinpoints when they go right or wrong. The party in office cannot seek to blame a coalition partner for its failings

Question 4

Why are governments in a single party government seen as an advantage?

Answer 4

Governments can pursue their programmes for which their received a mandate in the election; this allows a strong government who can tackle problems directly rather than being unstable and searching for an agreement. Proposals won’t be diluted from a compromise with coalition partners

Question 5

How would we know immediately after the election which party will form government?

Answer 5

There would be no need for private deals to be done by politicians away from the public gaze as the voters directly choose who is in office

Question 6

Why are coalitions unfavourable compared to a single party government?

Answer 6

Coalitions by comparison are unable and lack strong leadership. This could hand over disproportionate power to a third party such as in 2010.

Question 7

What is a manifesto?

Answer 7

A manifesto is a document produced early in an election campaign which sets out ideas, policy proposals and legislative intentions of a political party, this is intended to form the basis of their programmes should they win sufficient electoral support to form a government

Question 8

What 4 factors undermine the mandate theory?

Answer 8

• No one can be sure why people supported a party in the last election
• Manifestos are vague
• Governments have to make decisions on issues that arise during the lifetime of an administration
• post war governments have not received the backing of the majority of those who voted

Question 9

What is an example who suggests that a party does not have a strict mandate because no one can be sure why people supported a party in the last election?

Answer 9

for example, currently Theresa May has said there will be a free vote on fox hunting; however the majority of the country do not favour this. Theresa May will most like gain votes due to her other policies regardless of the fact that many do not condone this specific policy.

Question 10

What is an example of a Manifesto that is vague?

Answer 10

for example, currently the Conservative Party has an uncosted manifesto

Question 11

What is a general example of why a vague manifesto undermines the mandate theory?

Answer 11

people may have voted for a party because they know it takes a stag stance against international terrorism however did not know this would involved serious curbs on civil liberties

Question 12

How do decisions on issues that arise during the life time of a government undermine the mandate theory?

Answer 12

as governments have to take responsibility over an issue which has not been identified in their manifesto. Such as the Iraq War under Tony Blair

Question 13

What are the 3 types of coalitions?

Answer 13

• the grand coalition
• multi party coalition
• coalition of one major and one minor party (“third force”)

Question 14

What is a grand coalition?

Answer 14

this is a government including representatives of the two main parties

Question 15

What is an example of a grand coalition where a government includes representatives of the two main parties?

Answer 15

the one led by Angela Merkel in Germany since 2005

Question 16

What is a multi party coalition?

Answer 16

this involves perhaps 3 or 4 parties in a country that lacks two predominant groupings such as Austria, Italy and the Netherlands.

Question 17

What 3 countries are examples of a multi party coalition?

Answer 17

• Austria
• Italy
• Netherlands

Question 18

What administration was an example of a coalition of one major party and one minor party (“third force”)?

Answer 18

Weimar Germany

Question 19

Why would coalition government be likely under a PR system in Britain?

Answer 19

as no party since 1945 has won a majority of at least 50%

Question 20

Between what years was Scotland government by a third force coalition?

Answer 20

1999-2007

Question 21

In Scotland between 1999-2007 how was Scottish Parliament government?

Answer 21

the Executive was governed by Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition for 8 years

Question 22

Did the arrangement between 1999-2007 in Scottish Parliament prove a stable one?

Answer 22

yes, ministers were able to implement an agreed programme

Question 23

Why can the instability of coalitions be seen to be overstated?

Answer 23

as they do not always paralyse economic and social progress because of the failure to agree on specific policies. There has actually been much continuity of policy and considerable economic development

Question 24

In pre-1858 France how long did one coalition take to form?

Answer 24

1 month

Question 25

In what year did Israel experience very prolonged bargaining over a coalition government?

Answer 25

1988

Question 26

What can be a disadvantage of a large majority government under FPTP?

Answer 26

they can fly legislation through the HOC without much accountability .

Question 27

How can coalitions actually provide more stability than a two party system under FPTP?

Answer 27

as there is not a lurch between left and right, Labour or Conservatives which make it difficult for businessmen to plan ahead

Question 28

How do third parties provide a moderate effect on government?

Answer 28

as they keep extremist tendencies in check ,making for more consensual middle of the road government

Question 29

How under coalitions would the policies made be based upon the support of a greater percentage of the population?

Answer 29

this is because for example the Labour administration in 2005 could only introduce policies backed by 35% of the voters. Coalition governments are more broadly based.

Question 30

What % of votes did Labour win in 2005?

Answer 30

35%

Question 31

What does FPTP produce as opposed to the compromise and consensus spirit of coalitions?

Answer 31

they provide a sharp conflict between 2 parties who behave in a partisan manner

Question 32

Why may coalitions not prove durable?

Answer 32

parties may wish to withdraw over policy disagreement

Question 33

Why is it a disadvantage that in a coalition such as a third force that the main party are toned down?

Answer 33

as people vote for a party in the expectation that its policies will be carried out by its leadership.

Question 34

What could happen to major policy decisions under a coalition?

Answer 34

they could be shelved due to the difficulty to reach agreement on a controversial issue.

Question 35

What was the word the french used to say that it was easier to do nothing than to do something?

Answer 35

immbolilisme

Question 36

Why may fuzzy, consensual policies not be advantageous to a country?

Answer 36

as at times there is a need for a radical departure from existing policy such as Margret Thatcher in 1979