UK A-Levels Politics Practice Exam

What best describes a coalition government?

1. A government fully controlled by one political party

2. A government where multiple parties cooperate

3. A temporary government before elections

4. A government formed through direct democracy

The correct answer is: A government where multiple parties cooperate

The correct answer describes a coalition government as one where multiple parties cooperate. This situation arises when no single political party wins an outright majority in the legislature, leading to the need for collaboration among different parties to form a governing majority. Such arrangements often involve negotiations and compromises on policy positions to ensure stability and effectiveness in governance. Coalition governments are common in parliamentary systems, where the dynamics of party representation can necessitate alliances to achieve a functional majority. In contrast, a government fully controlled by one political party signifies a majority rule scenario, which does not reflect the nature of a coalition. A temporary government before elections refers to a caretaker government, which operates differently from coalition arrangements and does not imply the cooperative nature between multiple parties. Lastly, a government formed through direct democracy implies decisions made directly by the electorate rather than through representative parties, which is not applicable to coalition governments.