Confidence motion
Also called: Vote of confidence, Trust vote · Topic: Parliamentary Procedure, Committees and Privileges · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 4 "Executive"
Meaning
A confidence motion, also called a vote of confidence or trust vote, is moved by the government itself. It asks the Lok Sabha, or a state assembly, to show that the government has majority support. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Art. 75(3)), so a government that loses this vote must resign. A newly appointed Prime Minister whose majority is in doubt may be asked to win one quickly.
Example
Governments led by V.P. Singh (1990) and H.D. Deve Gowda (1997) lost confidence motions. In 1999, the Vajpayee government lost one by a single vote, 269 to 270. The Manmohan Singh government won its confidence motion in 2008.
Don't confuse with
- No-confidence motion: the opposition moves it against the government. It is allowed only in the Lok Sabha and needs the support of 50 members. A confidence motion is moved by the government to prove its own majority.
Related concepts
- Substantive motion
- Closure motion
- Closure by compartments
- Kangaroo closure
- Motion of thanks
- Adjournment motion
- Suspension of business motion
- Censure motion
- No-confidence motion
- Resolution