Introduction

The modern theory of political democracy is built upon the practice of party competition. Political parties campaign for support. Individual electors vote for parties. These votes are aggregated to produce an outcome. Elected parties enter the legislature. If there is an outright winner among the parties, then the winner forms the government. If there is no outright winner, then parties normally have to bargain over the formation of a governing coalition. The prospect of future elections keeps parties in the government and legislature accountable to the electorate, whose interests they are supposed to be serving.