Government shutdown

A government shutdown occurs when the legislative branch does not pass key bills which fund or authorize the operations of the executive branch, resulting in the cessation of some or all operations of a government. Government shutdowns can reduce public trust in politics.

In presidential systems, the executive branch typically has the authority to keep the government functioning, usually on a reduced level, even without an approved budget. In the United States, the federal government has since 1980 shut down more than 10 times because Congress failed to pass appropriations bills before the previous ones expired. The most recent shutdown affecting more than one department began on January 31, 2026 and ended on February 3, while the Department of Homeland Security remains impacted as of February 14.

The type of shutdowns experienced by the United States are nearly impossible in other forms of government. Under the parliamentary systems used in most European nations, stalemates within the government are less likely, but the executive must maintain the approval of the legislature to remain in power (confidence and supply), and typically an election is triggered if a budget fails to pass (loss of supply).

Australia

The Australian Constitution incorporates mechanisms to prevent a government shutdown by ensuring continuity of governance even during legislative deadlocks. Unlike systems where budgetary impasses can halt government operations, Section 57 of the constitution, allows for a double dissolution, a uniquely Australian mechanism, where both the House of Representatives and the Senate are dissolved simultaneously if the Senate twice rejects or fails to pass a bill approved by the House, with a three-month interval between attempts. This means, if a Government Budget is rejected by the Parliament twice, a full federal election is automatically triggered (normal elections only see half the senate up for re-election), enabling the electorate to resolve the impasse.