Provisional government

Quick Facts: Who was Provisional government?

Subject:

Provisional government

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A temporary government formed during state collapse, revolution, or transition.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

A provisional government, also called an interim, emergency, or transitional government, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolution, civil war, or some combination thereof. Provisional governments generally come to power in connection with the sudden, catastrophic and irreversible collapse of the previous political system, resulting from revolution, coup d'état, civil war, debellatio, economic collapse, the death of a strongman ruler, or other circumstances which have resulted in state collapse. Questions of democratic transition and state-building are often fundamental to the formation and policies of such governments. Provisional governments maintain power until a permanent government can be appointed by a regular political process, which is generally an election. They are usually heavily involved with the process of defining the legal and constitutional basis of their permanent successors (or at least the constituent assembly entrusted to draw up a such an arrangement), including institutional structure, human rights regimes, macroeconomic structure, and foreign relations.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Provisional governments differ from caretaker governments, which are responsible for governing within an established parliamentary system and serve temporarily after an election, vote of no confidence or cabinet crisis, until a new government can be appointed. Caretaker governments operate entirely within the existing constitutional framework and most countries tightly circumscribe their authority, either by convention or more formal legal means. Conversely, provisional governments, which typically arise from catastrophic institutional collapse, often have the ability to rule by decree in the absence of a functional legislature (at least until a constituent assembly or other transitional legislative assembly can be convened) and, of necessity given their role in crisis response, exercise broad powers with few restrictions (often without even a national constitution). In opinion of Yossi Shain and Juan J. Linz, provisional governments can be classified to four groups: Revolutionary provisional governments (when the former regime is overthrown and the power belongs to the people who have overthrown it). Power sharing provisional governments (when the power is shared between former regime and the ones who are trying to change it).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Incumbent provisional governments (when the power during transitional period belongs to the former regime). International provisional governments (when the power during the transitional period belongs to the international community). The establishment of provisional governments is frequently tied to the implementation of transitional justice. Provisional governments may be responsible for implementing transitional justice measures as part of the path to establishing a permanent government structure. The early provisional governments were created to prepare for the return of royal rule.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Provisional government

True or False: “Provisional governments operate entirely within an established constitutional framework like caretaker governments do.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Unlike caretaker governments, provisional bodies often arise from catastrophic collapse and may rule by decree with few immediate restrictions.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Provisional Irish Republican Army — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Irish republican paramilitary force fighting for a united, socialist Irish republic.
• Prudente de Morais — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Brazilian lawyer and politician who served as the third President of Brazil (1894-1898).
• Prussia — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A powerful German state that shaped the course of modern Germany from 1525 to 1947.
• Prussian uprisings — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A series of 13th-century revolts by Old Prussians against the Teutonic Knights.
• Psamtik II — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pharaoh of the Saite-based Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt
• Pskov Republic — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A powerful Russian city-state that achieved formal independence from Novgorod in 1348.

Frequently Asked Questions about Provisional government