A
minority government, or
minority cabinet or
minority parliament, is a
cabinet formed in a
parliamentary system when a political party or
coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the
parliament. It is sworn into office, with or without the formal support of other parties, to enable a government to be formed. Under such a government, legislation can only be passed with the support of enough other members of the legislature to provide a majority, encouraging multi-partisanship. In
bicameral parliaments, the term relates to the situation in chamber whose confidence is considered most crucial to the continuance in office of the government.