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Difficulty: EasyParliamentary System of Government

In a parliamentary system of government operating under established cabinet conventions, what action is required of a minister who publicly dissents from a decision approved by the cabinet?

  1. A
    Appeal directly to the ceremonial Head of State to veto the cabinet decision
  2. Resign from the cabinet post to preserve the principle of collective responsibilityAnswer
  3. C
    File for judicial review in court to nullify the cabinet decision
  4. D
    Claim civil service anonymity to avoid implementing the decision

Answer

Resign from the cabinet post to preserve the principle of collective responsibility
The correct answer highlights the convention of collective responsibility. In a parliamentary system, the cabinet acts as a single cohesive unit. If a minister disagrees with a policy approved by the collective leadership and chooses to criticize it publicly, they are required to resign from office.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core constitutional convention governing cabinet behavior in a parliamentary system.
The core convention is collective cabinet responsibility.
Collective responsibility dictates that the executive cabinet must present a united front to the legislature and the public.
2
Determine the required obligation of an individual minister who publicly opposes cabinet consensus.
The dissenting minister must step down from their office.
Ministers cannot publicly criticize policies decided by the cabinet while remaining part of the government.

Key Concept

Collective Responsibility
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Parliamentary System of Government

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