Voting Procedure

All members of the Government have the right to propose their own solution to business discussed in plenary session. A vote must be taken in cases where more than one proposal is put forward. Proposals by a minister do not need the support of other ministers in order to be voted on. A proposal by a rapporteur which does not receive the backing of a single minister is dropped without a vote.

Government voting procedure is collegial. Fundamental to this procedure is that all proposals are decided on a single vote. In the voting process, each minister in turn expresses his/her opinion in reverse order of seniority, from the most junior up to the most senior minister. The chairperson is the last to express a view. The proposal supported by the majority is declared the decision. In the event of a tie, the chairperson’s vote is decisive.

If a minister wishes to express a minority view on an issue, but does not wish to present an alternative solution or a dissenting opinion, he/she has the right to enter a statement in the Government minutes.