Balance of power refers to the division, distribution, or separation of powers within a national political system. The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Separation of powers, a term coined by French political Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu[1][2], is a model for the governance of democratic states. ...

Parliamentary politics

In parliamentary politics, balance of power usually refers to the position held by a political party, or a coalition of minor parties whose support of a minority government in a parliamentary chamber can give the governing party enough voting strength to maintain stable government. This can be achieved either by the formation of a coalition government or by an assurance that any motion of no confidence in the government would be defeated. A party or person may also hold the balance of power in a chamber that does not form government, in which case the government may still need to bargain with that party or person to have legislation passed, but the government is not at risk of losing a vote of no confidence. A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... A coalition is an alliance among entities, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ... A motion of no confidence, also called a motion of non-confidence, a censure motion, a no-confidence motion, or simply a confidence motion, is a parliamentary motion traditionally put before a parliament by the opposition in the hope of defeating or embarrassing a government. ...

Federalism

In federations, the term "balance of power" is used in reference to which level of government is favoured in the division of power. In confederations (decentralised federations), it is more likely that the balance of power will be in favour of the sub-national level of government (that is, states or provinces). Canada is an example of such a federation. The Commonwealth of Australia is an example of a federation in which the balance of power has shifted in favour of the central (federal) government; although the states were constitutionally intended to be preponderant, the federal government has become dominant through various means. Also balance of power is just a term people use to say that all the branches check up on each other. A map displaying todays federations. ... A confederation is an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution. ... A state is a political association with effective dominion over a geographic area. ... A province is a territorial unit, almost always a country subdivision. ... The states and territories of Australia make up the Commonwealth of Australia under a federal system of government. ...

See also

• Majority