Official opposition in the context of "Leader of the Opposition"

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⭐ Core Definition: Official opposition

Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. This article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state. In some countries, the title of "Official Opposition" is conferred upon the largest political party sitting in opposition in the legislature, with said party's leader being accorded the title "Leader of the Opposition".

In first-past-the-post assemblies, where the tendency to gravitate into two major parties or party groupings operates strongly, government and opposition roles can go to the two main groupings serially in alternation.

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Official opposition in the context of Balance of power (parliament)

In parliamentary politics, balance of power is a situation in which a minority government's survival depends on the cooperation of MPs who are not from the ruling party nor the official opposition. The members holding the balance of power may guarantee their support for a government by either joining it in a coalition government or a confidence and supply agreement. In return for such a commitment, such members may demand legislative or policy commitments from the party they are to support. A person or party may also hold a balance of power in a chamber without any commitment to government, in which case both the government and opposition groupings may on occasion need to negotiate for that person's or party's support.

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