View source for Politics of North Borneo

The '''politics of [[North Borneo]]''' function within a framework of a [[wikipedia:Unitary state|unitary]] [[wikipedia:Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[wikipedia:Representative democracy|representative democracy]]. The structure of government is based on the [[wikipedia:Westminster system|Westminster system]], and the legal system is a hybrid legal system primarily based on the [[wikipedia:English common law|common law of England]], though with limited [[wikipedia:Customary law|customary law]] and [[wikipedia:Sharia law|Sharia law]] for indigenous and Islamic communities, respectively. North Borneo is a [[wikipedia:Constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarchy]], in which [[wikipedia:Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] is sovereign and head of state. 

The [[North Borneo Parliament]] holds legislative power and consists of the Queen and the [[North Borneo House of Assembly|House of Assembly]]. The Queen is represented by the [[Governor-General of North Borneo]] when not present in the country herself. Members of Parliament (MPs) are [[Elections in North Borneo|elected]] to the House of Assembly usually every five years. The country largely operates as a [[wikipedia:Two-party system|two-party system]], whereby parliamentary politics is dominated by the [[National Alliance Party]] and [[North Borneo Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] and several small parties (some of them ethnicity or religion based) trailing far behind in number of seats. One notable exception was the [[2018 North Borneo general election|2018 election]] which saw a smaller (or third) party hold the balance of power and establish a [[wikipedia:Confidence and supply|confidence and supply]] arrangement with one of the dominant parties.

Executive power in North Borneo is based on the principle that "the Queen reigns, but the government rules". Although an integral part of the process of government, the Queen and her governor-general remain politically neutral and are not involved in the everyday aspects of governing. Ministers are selected from among the democratically elected members of the House of Assembly. Most ministers are members of the [[Cabinet of North Borneo|Cabinet]], which is the main decision-making body of the [[North Borneo Government]]. The [[Prime Minister of North Borneo|prime minister]] is the most senior minister, chair of the Cabinet, and thus head of government. Other ministers are appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister, and are all accountable to Parliament.

The [[wikipedia:Democracy Index|Democracy Index]] rated North Borneo as a "flawed democracy" in 2016.

[[Category:Politics of North Borneo]]