Question

What is meant by the collective responsibility of the Cabinet?

Answer 1

Hint: Cabinet collective responsibility is also called collective ministerial responsibility. The cabinet has ministers that are placed at important positions in the executive branch of the parliament.

Complete answer: It is a constitutional precept in Parliamentary systems that members of the cabinet must show their support publicly over all governmental decisions made in Cabinet. It even extends to the fact that they might not personally agree with such decisions. The kind of support also varies such as voting for the government in the legislature. According to this norm, if a member of the Cabinet wishes to openly oppose or show dissent to a Cabinet decision then they are bound to resign from their position. In case of a no-confidence motion is passed in parliament, the government along with the entire cabinet is responsible collectively. Thus the entire government has to resign. As a consequence, the parliament will be dissolved and a general election will be called for the election of a new government.

Note: Cabinet collective responsibility is not the same as individual ministerial responsibility. According to Individual ministerial responsibility, ministers are responsible for the running of their departments, and therefore accountable for the mistakes in their departments.