Opposition Parties
The role of opposition parties in democracy, how they hold government accountable, and what being in opposition means.
The Loyal Opposition
In a healthy democracy, opposition parties perform essential functions. They scrutinize government policy through questions, debates, and committee investigations. They offer alternative policies, giving voters a choice at the next election. They monitor for corruption and abuse of power. And they demonstrate that peaceful alternation of power is possible, which is fundamental to democratic legitimacy.
The concept of a 'loyal opposition' (loyal to the democratic system while opposing the current government) was formalized in the Westminster system, where the leader of the largest opposition party holds the official title 'Leader of His/Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition' and even receives a salary for the role. This institutionalization of opposition signals that disagreement is not disloyalty; it is a democratic duty.
