Cross-community vote

Northern Ireland
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A cross-community vote or cross-community support is a form of voting used in the Northern Ireland Assembly according to the provisions of the 1998 Belfast Agreement.^[1] It requires the support of both main communities in Northern Ireland, in other words majority of unionists and the majority of nationalist members of the Assembly.^[2] It is also used to a lesser extent at local government level.^{[citation needed]}

Background

Upon taking their seats members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are required to designate themselves as either "unionist", "nationalist" or "other". MLAs are free to designate themselves as they see fit, the only requirement being that no member may change his or her designation more than once during an Assembly session.^[3]

A vote will not automatically require cross-community support. A "Petition of Concern" must first be presented to the Speaker by at least 30 of the 108 members. In a cross-community vote the majority of unionists and the majority of nationalist votes are required to pass a motion put to the Assembly.^[4]

Designations

Note: These figures include the assumed designation of the Speaker who, having a non-partisan role, does not officially declare a designation.

Parties

List of current and previous assembly parties by designation.

Unionist

Nationalist

Other

See also

• Consociationalism
• Demography and politics of Northern Ireland

References

External links

• Official website
• 'Leary/publications/Journal%20Articles/New_Left_review_nature_british_irish_agreement.pdf "The Nature of the British-Irish Agreement" by Brendan O´Leary

v t e Northern Ireland Assembly Assembly Speaker Assembly Commission Acts Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Parliament Buildings Committees Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Agriculture and Rural Development Culture, Arts and Leisure Education Employment and Learning Enterprise, Trade and Investment Environment Finance and Personnel Health, Social Services and Public Safety Regional Development Social Development Constituencies Belfast East Belfast North Belfast South Belfast West East Antrim East Londonderry Fermanagh and South Tyrone Foyle Lagan Valley Mid Ulster Newry and Armagh North Antrim North Down South Antrim South Down Strangford Upper Bann West Tyrone Parties Current: Alliance Democratic Unionist Green NI21 Sinn Féin Social Democratic and Labour Traditional Unionist Voice United Kingdom Independence Party Ulster Unionist Previous: NI Unionist NI Women's Coalition Progressive Unionist UK Unionist United Unionist Elections 1998 2003 2007 2011 Next Procedure Cross-community vote See also Good Friday Agreement St Andrews Agreement