Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A multiparty system is a political system in which multiple political parties have the opportunity to compete for and hold public office. It allows for different viewpoints and interests to be represented, providing voters with more choices.
Related terms
Coalition government: A coalition government is formed when two or more political parties join forces to govern, usually because no single party has enough seats to form a majority. It's like when different student clubs work together on a project to achieve their goals.
Proportional representation: Proportional representation is an electoral system where seats in the legislature are allocated according to the percentage of votes each political party receives. It ensures that smaller parties also get representation, just like giving every student in the cafeteria a proportionate amount of food based on their preferences.
Plurality/majority systems: Plurality/majority systems are electoral systems where candidates or parties need to win the most votes (plurality) or more than half of the votes (majority) in order to secure victory. It's similar to having one popular dish in the cafeteria that gets chosen by most students.