What is a common characteristic of a minority government?

A minority government is characterized by its lack of an absolute majority in the legislature, meaning that the governing party does not hold more than half of the seats. This situation necessitates the ruling party to rely on support from other parties to pass legislation and maintain stability in governance. Such a structure often leads to negotiations and compromises, which can affect the government's ability to enact its full agenda.

While some governments may have a clear mandate or be formed through coalitions, those scenarios typically involve larger majorities or cooperative agreements that define those types of governments rather than a minority one. Additionally, while minority governments can indeed be temporary, this is not a defining characteristic since other government types can also be temporary. Therefore, the defining feature of a minority government is specifically its absence of an absolute majority, which directly influences how it operates within the political framework.