Northern Ireland
Nothern Ireland
The agreement determined that the Executive Committee would be a power-sharing government, representing both unionists and nationalists. It would be based on the power-sharing, Consociational model of democracy. Arend Lijphart designed this model for societies emerging from, or with the potential for, conflict.
The main consociational features of the Northern Ireland power-sharing model are:
-cross-community power sharing at executive level, including the joint office of First Minister and deputy First Minister, and a multi-party executive. The First and deputy First Ministers, one unionist and one nationalist, have equal powers. One cannot be in position without the other. The multi-party executive (cabinet), or coalition, is made up of unionist and nationalist parties. The d’Hondt system determines the proportion of unionist and nationalist members elected to the Executive, based on the number of seats a party wins in the election.
-proportionality – a proportional representation electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote (STV) is used to elect MLAs. The d’Hondt mechanism is used to allocate positions of power: ministers/chairs and deputy chairs of committees.
-cultural equality for the two main traditions (for example for Irish language and Ulster Scots).
-special voting arrangements that give veto rights to the minority. Certain Assembly decisions require cross-community support, not just majority support but the support of a certain percentage of nationalists and unionists. These decisions include: election of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers; changes to Standing Orders; budget allocations and other financial votes; determination of the number of Ministers and their responsibilities; exclusion of Ministers or Members of political parties from holding office; and petitions of
The agreement determined that the Executive Committee would be a power-sharing government, representing both unionists and nationalists. It would be based on the power-sharing, Consociational model of democracy. Arend Lijphart designed this model for societies emerging from, or with the potential for, conflict.
The main consociational features of the Northern Ireland power-sharing model are:
-cross-community power sharing at executive level, including the joint office of First Minister and deputy First Minister, and a multi-party executive. The First and deputy First Ministers, one unionist and one nationalist, have equal powers. One cannot be in position without the other. The multi-party executive (cabinet), or coalition, is made up of unionist and nationalist parties. The d’Hondt system determines the proportion of unionist and nationalist members elected to the Executive, based on the number of seats a party wins in the election.
-proportionality – a proportional representation electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote (STV) is used to elect MLAs. The d’Hondt mechanism is used to allocate positions of power: ministers/chairs and deputy chairs of committees.
-cultural equality for the two main traditions (for example for Irish language and Ulster Scots).
-special voting arrangements that give veto rights to the minority. Certain Assembly decisions require cross-community support, not just majority support but the support of a certain percentage of nationalists and unionists. These decisions include: election of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers; changes to Standing Orders; budget allocations and other financial votes; determination of the number of Ministers and their responsibilities; exclusion of Ministers or Members of political parties from holding office; and petitions of