Coalition government

A government formed when multiple political parties cooperate to command legislative support, usually by sharing executive offices or agreeing to support a common program.

Parliamentary confidence: The principle that a government must retain the legislature’s support to remain in office. Coalition partners combine votes to sustain the government in confidence divisions.
Single-party government: A government whose governing party holds executive power without a formal coalition partner. It avoids the interparty bargaining that defines coalition government.
Proportional representation: An electoral system that allocates legislative seats roughly in proportion to parties’ vote shares. It often produces legislatures in which no party can govern alone.
Coalition bargaining: Negotiation among political parties over shared policies, offices, and terms of governing together. It determines which demands survive compromise in a coalition program.
Coalition agreement: A negotiated document setting out the policies and governing arrangements accepted by coalition parties. It records the compromises that make joint government possible.
Minority government: A government whose party or parties lack a legislative majority but remain in office with outside support or abstentions. It may rely on other parties without bringing them into the cabinet.
Multiparty system: A party system in which several parties have meaningful electoral support and legislative representation. Coalitions are a common governing response when political support is divided among parties.
Government formation: The process of selecting and assembling a government after an election or change of leadership. Coalition talks can shape who governs and how long formation takes.
Cabinet: A body of senior ministers who direct government policy and administration. Coalition parties often divide cabinet posts among their representatives.
Confidence and supply: An agreement in which a party supports another government on confidence votes and budgets without joining it. It offers a formal alternative to sharing executive office in a coalition.

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