Parliamentary confidence

Parliamentary confidence is the support a legislature must give a government for it to remain in office. It is usually demonstrated through votes or the absence of a successful no-confidence motion.

Confidence motion: A parliamentary motion that tests whether a government retains the legislature’s support. A government may call one to establish or reaffirm its majority.
Parliamentary system: A system of government in which the executive depends on the support of a legislature. Confidence is the defining legislative condition of its executive’s tenure.
1979 United Kingdom no-confidence vote: A parliamentary vote that ended James Callaghan’s government by a single vote in 1979. It is a prominent example of a government losing office through a formal confidence vote.
Presidential system: A system in which a separately elected president leads the executive for a fixed constitutional term. A president generally does not depend on retaining legislative confidence to remain in office.
Responsible government: A constitutional principle requiring the executive to remain accountable to the elected legislature. Confidence is the practical mechanism through which this accountability is enforced.
Motion of no confidence: A parliamentary motion declaring that a government no longer has the legislature’s support. Its passage can demonstrate that confidence has been lost.
Cabinet government: A system in which a cabinet of ministers collectively directs the executive and answers to the legislature. Cabinet responsibility usually makes confidence apply to the government as a whole.
2011 Canadian federal election: A Canadian election triggered after the House of Commons found Stephen Harper’s government in contempt and defeated it on confidence. It illustrates how a parliamentary confidence defeat can lead directly to an election.
Impeachment: A formal process for charging and potentially removing a public official for misconduct. Unlike a confidence vote, impeachment concerns specified wrongdoing rather than loss of political support.
Government formation: The process of selecting and establishing an executive government after an election or resignation. Parties negotiate to identify a government capable of winning legislative confidence.

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