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Government & Cabinet

The cabinet represents executive power in Lawmaker. After elections, parties form governments by appointing characters to cabinet positions. This guide explains the cabinet system and government formation.

What is the Cabinet?

The cabinet is the executive government of a country, consisting of:

  • Prime Minister (or equivalent) - Head of government
  • Ministers - Department heads (Finance, Foreign Affairs, etc.)
  • Other cabinet positions - Varies by country

Cabinet positions are held by activists nominated by political parties.

Cabinet Positions

Common Positions

Most countries have positions like:

Position Responsibilities
Prime Minister Head of government, leads cabinet
Deputy Prime Minister Second-in-command
Finance Minister Economic policy, budget
Foreign Minister International relations, diplomacy
Home Secretary Internal affairs, law enforcement
Defense Minister Military, national security
Education Minister Schools, universities
Health Minister Healthcare system
Environment Minister Climate, conservation

Country-Specific Cabinets

Each country has its own cabinet structure:

  • Different position names
  • Different number of positions
  • Unique roles and responsibilities
  • Cultural variations

Check your country's cabinet template to see available positions.

Symbolic Power

Cabinet positions in Lawmaker are primarily symbolic:

  • ✓ Prestige for the holding party
  • ✓ Character development (boosts authority and followers)
  • ✓ Political statement about priorities
  • ✗ Limited mechanical effect (no direct power over laws)

Why Symbolic?

In Lawmaker, legislative power comes from seats and voting. Cabinet positions represent political success and coalition agreements rather than gameplay mechanics.

Government Formation

When Governments Form

Government formation happens:

  • After elections - New legislature needs a government
  • After collapse - Previous government fell apart
  • Voluntary change - Parties agree to reshuffle

The Formation Process

graph TD
    A[Election Occurs] --> B[Party Proposes Cabinet]
    B --> C[All Parties Vote]
    C --> D{Majority Support?}
    D -->|Yes| E[Government Formed]
    D -->|No| F[Proposal Fails]
    E --> G[Activists Appointed]
    F --> H[Try Again]
  1. A party creates a cabinet formation proposal
  2. They nominate activists for each position
  3. All parties vote on the proposal (60-day period)
  4. Majority support → Government forms
  5. Majority opposition → Proposal fails
  6. Process repeats until government forms

Proposing a Cabinet

To propose a cabinet formation:

  1. Navigate to government formation
  2. Select activists for each cabinet position
  3. Write a description/justification
  4. Submit for voting

Cost: Free (no Political Power required)

Coalition Cabinets

If no party has a majority, you'll need to negotiate with other parties. Offer cabinet positions to coalition partners in exchange for their support.

Voting on Formations

All parties vote on cabinet proposals:

  • Yes - Support this government
  • No - Oppose this government
  • Abstain - No position

Votes are weighted by seat count (like legislation).

Formation Requirements

For a cabinet to be approved:

  • Majority support required (>50% of voting weight)
  • All positions must have nominees
  • Nominees must be activists (not journalists)
  • Nominees can be from any party (coalition governments)

Coalition Governments

Why Coalitions Matter

With proportional representation:

  • Single party rarely has majority
  • Need votes from multiple parties
  • Cabinet positions = bargaining chips
  • Stable government requires coalition agreements

Building Coalitions

To form a coalition government:

  1. Identify potential partners - Ideologically compatible parties
  2. Open negotiations - Use messaging system
  3. Offer cabinet positions - Distribute positions among coalition members
  4. Agree on policies - Legislative agenda for the term
  5. Coordinate votes - Support each other's proposals
  6. Maintain trust - Honor agreements

Coalition Agreements

Typical coalition terms:

  • Cabinet distribution - Which party gets which positions
  • Legislative priorities - What laws to propose/support
  • Vote coordination - How to vote on key issues
  • Duration - How long coalition lasts
  • Exit conditions - When coalition can be dissolved

Coalition Deal

"Progressive Alliance Coalition"

Parties: Green Party (230 seats) + Social Democrats (180 seats) + Liberal Party (90 seats) Total: 500/650 seats (77% - comfortable majority)

Cabinet Distribution: - Green Party: Prime Minister, Environment Minister, Transport Minister - Social Democrats: Finance Minister, Health Minister, Education Minister - Liberal Party: Foreign Minister, Justice Minister

Agreement: Support green energy transition, universal healthcare expansion, progressive taxation

Coalition Breakdown

Coalitions can collapse when:

  • Parties disagree on key votes
  • One party leaves coalition
  • Trust breaks down
  • Electoral changes shift balance
  • New coalition forms without you

Cabinet Benefits

For Your Party

Holding cabinet positions gives:

  • Prestige - Recognition as part of government
  • Visibility - Public profile boost
  • Character growth - Activists gain authority and followers
  • Bargaining power - Leverage in future negotiations
  • Electoral credibility - "Experience in government"

For Characters

Activists in cabinet gain:

  • Faster follower growth - Public attention
  • Authority increases - Government experience
  • Profile boost - Name recognition
  • Career development - Path to leadership

Cabinet as Investment

Even if cabinet positions have limited mechanical power, they're valuable for building your party's long-term profile and developing strong characters.

Government Strategy

When to Lead Formation

As the leading party, propose formation when:

✓ You have most seats - Natural right to lead ✓ Coalition is secure - Partners ready to support ✓ Clear agenda - Legislative priorities set ✓ Good timing - Right after election

When to Join Coalition

As a junior partner, join when:

✓ Fair cabinet share - Positions proportional to seats ✓ Policy alignment - Compatible legislative goals ✓ Trustworthy partners - Reliable parties ✓ Better than opposition - Best available deal

When to Oppose

Vote against formation when:

✓ Ideologically opposed - Government contradicts your values ✓ Poor deal - Better terms might come ✓ Opposition strategy - Building alternative coalition ✓ Excluded unfairly - Should be included but aren't

Distribution Fairness

Cabinet positions should roughly match:

  • Seat share - More seats = more positions
  • Coalition contribution - Parties providing majority support
  • Negotiating power - Leverage in talks

Greedy Formations Fail

If one party tries to take all positions despite not having a majority, other parties will vote it down. Be fair in coalition negotiations!

Government Duration

Length of Service

Governments typically last:

  • Until next election - Natural endpoint
  • Until collapse - Coalition breaks down
  • Until new formation - Parties agree to reshuffle

Stability Factors

Stable governments have:

  • Strong majority (>60% seats)
  • Few coalition partners (2-3 parties)
  • Ideological compatibility
  • Clear agreements
  • Active communication

Government Collapse

Governments fall when:

  • Coalition parties turn against each other
  • Major policy disagreement
  • New coalition forms without current government
  • Election dramatically shifts seats

Advanced Tactics

Minority Governments

Minority government = Government with <50% seats

  • Risky but possible
  • Requires case-by-case support from opposition
  • Can work if opposition is fragmented
  • Unstable but gives you control

Grand Coalitions

Grand coalition = Ideologically opposite parties govern together

  • Left + Right wing parties
  • Unusual but strategic
  • Often formed in crisis
  • Can alienate party bases

Opposition Strategy

Not in government? Be effective opposition:

  • Vote against government proposals
  • Propose alternative policies
  • Build shadow cabinet
  • Prepare for next election
  • Form alternative coalition

Tips for Government Formation

Formation Tips

  1. Negotiate before proposing - Line up votes first
  2. Be fair in distribution - Proportional to seat share
  3. Communicate clearly - Use messages
  4. Honor agreements - Build trust for future coalitions
  5. Consider ideology - Natural partners make stable governments
  6. Use best characters - Put high-profile activists in cabinet
  7. Think strategically - Cabinet builds party credibility

Common Mistakes

  • Proposing without votes - Wasting time on doomed proposals
  • Greedy distribution - Taking too many positions
  • Poor communication - Not negotiating with partners
  • Breaking agreements - Destroying trust
  • Random nominations - Not considering character quality
  • Ignoring opposition - Treating them as irrelevant

Next Steps