Social studies and Parliamentary government

What is meant by the principle of collective responsibility
Level
Middle School
Grade
8

Answer

Principle of collective responsibility :

  • One of the important features of Parliamentary Government (Cabinet Government) is the principle of collective responsibility. It means that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Parliament. Once a decision is taken in the Cabinet, all the ministers become equally responsible to defend that decision.
  • If a minister is not willing to own responsibility for a decision taken by the Cabinet, the only course open to him is to resign. If the policy of the government is criticised in the Parliament, it is the responsibility of all the ministers to defend it and answer the criticism.
  • If the House of the People passes a vote of no-confidence against the policy of the government or even one minister, it is considered a vote of no-confidence against the entire Council of Ministers and in that case the entire Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister has to resign. The ministers swim or sink together.

 

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