Motion of Censure
A formal expression of disapproval by a legislature directed at a government minister or the government as a whole.
Explanation
A motion of censure (or motion of no confidence) formally expresses legislative disapproval of the executive. Unlike a vote of no confidence, a censure motion does not always require the government to resign — in some systems it is symbolic. In France, a motion of censure against the government (Article 49-3) that passes forces the prime minister to resign. Individual ministers can also face censure. The difference between censure and no confidence varies by constitutional system. In the U.S., Congress can censure the president (a formal rebuke) without forcing resignation — it has been used rarely and is seen as the weaker alternative to impeachment.
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