Meanings
alternative positive parliamentarianism
- uncountablepolitical scienceA type of parliamentary government in which an incoming government must win affirmative parliamentary support, typically through an investiture vote, in order to take office.
The distinction between ‘negative’ and ‘positive’ parliamentarism ... has gained a wide use.
2024, Tom Louwerse, “Investiture and Removal of Governments: ‘Positive’ and ‘Negative’ Parliamentarism”, in New Developments in the Study of Coalition Governments (Studies in Public Choice), volume 9, →DOI2 more examples
Under ‘positive’ parliamentarism, the government needs the active support of an absolute majority.
2020, Johannes Lindvall and Hanna Bäck, “Sweden’s Parliamentary Democracy at 100”, in Parliamentary Affairs, volume 73, number 3, →DOI, pages 477–502Dutch councils work under a system of positive parliamentarism that closely mirrors parliamentary government at the national level.
2025, Thijs Vos, Simon Otjes, Lianne van Kalken, and Geerten Boogaard, “Beyond coalition and opposition? The effect of councilwide agreements on legislative voting behaviour in Dutch municipalities”, in Swiss Political Science Review, volume 31, number 2, →DOI, pages 307–330
Origin
From positive + parliamentarism, in contrast with negative parliamentarism.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Danish positiv parlamentarisme
- positiv parlamentarismeparliamentary system in which an incoming government must win affirmative parliamentary support
French parlementarisme positif
- parlementarisme positifparliamentary system in which an incoming government must win affirmative parliamentary support
German positiver Parlamentarismus
- positiver Parlamentarismusparliamentary system in which an incoming government must win affirmative parliamentary support
Norwegian Bokmål positiv parlamentarisme
- positiv parlamentarismeparliamentary system in which an incoming government must win affirmative parliamentary support
Swedish positiv parlamentarism
- positiv parlamentarismparliamentary system in which an incoming government must win affirmative parliamentary support
Cite this entry
positive parliamentarism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/positive%20parliamentarism
“positive parliamentarism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/positive%20parliamentarism. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “positive parliamentarism,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/positive%20parliamentarism.
Source: positive parliamentarism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.