Government of Georgia (country)

The Government of Georgia consists of a prime minister and ministers. The prime minister is the head of the government. In addition to ministers—who are in charge of ministries and manage a specific sector of public administration—one or several state ministers can be introduced in the government to oversee the government's tasks of particular importance.[1] The government is constitutionally barred from holding any other office except in a political party, being engaged in entrepreneurial activities, or receiving remuneration for any other activity, except for academic and teaching.[1] The government ensures its representation in the country's administrative subdivisions by designating a state representative or governor.[1]

The head of the Government of Georgia is the prime minister, who appoints and dismisses ministers and assigns the duties of vice prime minister to one of the government members. The prime minister and the government are accountable to the Parliament of Georgia.[4]

Upon the recognition of the full powers of the newly elected Parliament, the government relinquishes its authority to the Parliament and continues to perform its duties until a new prime minister is appointed. In case of the resignation of the prime minister or the termination of their authority otherwise, the government continues to act until a new prime minister is appointed.[5] In either case, within two weeks, the Parliament must hold a vote of confidence in the government proposed by a candidate for the office of prime minister nominated by the political party that secured the best results in the parliamentary elections. A majority of the total number of the members of Parliament is required to pass a vote of confidence.[5]

If the Parliament's vote of confidence is not passed within the established time frame, the president of Georgia dissolves the Parliament no earlier than two weeks and no later than three weeks after the respective time frame has expired, and calls extraordinary parliamentary elections. Within two days of a vote of confidence in the government, the president of Georgia appoints a prime minister. The prime minister then appoints within two days of their appointment. If the president does not appoint the prime minister within the established time frame, the prime minister is considered appointed.[5]

A vote of no confidence in the government can be held if the motion is proposed by more than one third of the total number of the members of Parliament. Together with a no confidence motion, the initiators nominate a candidate for prime minister, and the latter proposes a new government.[6] If the Parliament does not pass a vote of no confidence in the government, the same members of Parliament have no right to propose a vote of no confidence within the next six months.[6] A vote of confidence can also be initiated by the prime minister. An issue of confidence is put to vote no earlier than the 7th day and no later than the 14th day after it has been presented. If the government fails to achieve a vote of confidence from the Parliament, the president of Georgia dissolves the Parliament and calls an extraordinary parliamentary election.[7]