Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumThe Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive

The Northern Ireland Assembly was established following the Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement) to give local people a say in how they are governed. It meets at Stormont in Belfast and has the power to make laws on devolved matters. Which of the following best describes a unique requirement for the formation of the Northern Ireland Executive?

  1. It must be based on a power-sharing arrangement between the main communities to ensure cross-community support.Answer
  2. B
    It has the authority to manage reserved matters such as national defense, foreign policy, and immigration.
  3. C
    It is led by a First Minister who is appointed directly by the Monarch without the need for an Assembly vote.
  4. D
    It follows a majority-rule system where the single largest party holds all ministerial positions in the Cabinet.

Answer

The correct answer states that the Northern Ireland Executive must be based on a power-sharing arrangement between the main communities to ensure cross-community support.
The correct answer is accurate because the Northern Ireland Executive is built on a power-sharing model. This ensures that both the unionist and nationalist communities are represented in the government, and significant decisions require support from across the political spectrum.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the specific governance requirements for Northern Ireland as established by the Belfast Agreement.
Recognition that the government must be inclusive of both main political traditions.
The history of Northern Ireland necessitated a unique power-sharing model to maintain peace and stability.
2
Differentiate between devolved powers (like education) and reserved powers (like defense).
Elimination of options that suggest the Assembly controls national or international affairs.
Reserved powers are strictly held by the UK Parliament at Westminster.
3
Evaluate the composition of the Executive against the 'majority-rule' versus 'power-sharing' concepts.
Selection of the power-sharing option over the simple majority-rule option.
Cross-community support is a mandatory legal requirement for the Northern Ireland Executive to function.

Key Concept

Power-sharing and cross-community support in the Northern Ireland Executive
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Rate this question

Topics

The Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive