Caretaker governments are those that are formed when an elected government resigns or loses a confidence vote. They are tasked with running the country until new elections can be held. Synonyms for caretaker governments include interim government, provisional government, transitory government and stopgap government. These governments often have limited powers and are restricted from making major policy decisions. Their main focus is to maintain stability and ensure that basic services are provided until a new government takes over. In some cases, caretaker governments may also be responsible for overseeing the electoral process and ensuring that it is fair and transparent.