Government & Democracy
Political parties and the Opposition
Political parties are groups of people with shared ideas who work to get their members elected to parliament. The party or coalition with majority support forms government; the largest party not in government forms the Opposition.
Key facts
- ◆ Parties put forward candidates and policies at elections.
- ◆ The party or coalition with majority support in the House of Representatives forms government.
- ◆ The largest party not in government forms the Opposition.
- ◆ People may also stand as independents, not belonging to any party.