Full-Power Cabinets and Caretaker Administrations in Parliamentary Democracies, 1945-2024

Abstract

We draw a conceptual and empirical distinction between “full-power” cabinets and “caretaker” periods and introduce a new dataset of parliamentary events capable of taking into consideration a regime’s institutional heterogeneity consistently yet flexibly. As well as recording events related to government formation and termination, the dataset includes a classification of full-power cabinets and caretaker periods. The data covers 36 countries between 1945 and 2024. We use the dataset to present an analysis of caretaker periods and show that these periods have gotten longer, on average, since the end of the Cold War. Caretaker periods represent a non-trivial amount of time in a country’s life, during which decisions must be made and actions taken. More studies of what actually happens during these times are, therefore, needed. This article contributes to the literature on parliamentary governments by providing a framework (and dataset) for systematically identifying full-power cabinets and caretaker periods.

Francesco Bromo

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

My research primarily focuses on political institutions, legislative politics, executive politics, representation, and constitutions.