{{Short description|Group of members of different political parties}} {{distinguish|Political faction|Electoral alliance|Coalition government}} {{More citations needed section|date=July 2023}} {{party politics}} {{Legislature}} A '''parliamentary group''', '''parliamentary caucus''' or '''political group''' is a group consisting of members of different political parties or independent politicians with similar ideologies. Some parliamentary systems allow smaller political parties, who are not numerous enough to form parliamentary groups in their own names, to join with other parties or independent politicians in order to benefit from rights or privileges that are only accorded to formally recognized groups. An electoral alliance, where political parties associate only for elections, is similar to a parliamentary group. A technical group is similar to a parliamentary group but with members of differing ideologies. In contrast, a political faction is a subgroup within a political party and a coalition forms only after elections.
Parliamentary groups may elect a parliamentary leader; such leaders are often important political players. Parliamentary groups in some cases use party discipline to control the votes of their members.
==International terms== Parliamentary groups correspond to "caucuses" in the United States Congress and the Parliament of Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/parliament-101-what-s-a-caucus-anyway-1.2515858|title=What's a caucus anyway? 3 things to know|website=Cbc.ca|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> A parliamentary group is sometimes called the ''parliamentary wing'' of a party, as distinct from its ''organizational wing''. Equivalent terms are used in different countries, including: Argentina (''bloque'' and ''interbloque''), Australia (party room); Austria (''Klub''); Belgium (''fractie''/''fraction''/''Fraktion''); Brazil and Portugal ("grupo parlamentar" or, informally, "bancadas"); Germany (''Fraktion''); Italy (''gruppo''), Finland (eduskuntaryhmä/''riksdagsgrupp''); the Netherlands (''fractie''); Poland (''klub''),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/regulamin/kon7.htm|title= Regulamin Sejmu|website=Sejm.gov.pl|access-date=23 May 2024|language=pl}}</ref> Switzerland (''fraction''/''Fraktion''/''frazione''); Romania (''grup parlamentar''); and Russia (''фракция/fraktsiya''), Spain ('grupo parlamentario'), and Ukraine (''фракція/fraktsiya''). In some countries, there is a special category for groupings who do not full fill the criteria for a group: Germany (''Parlamentarische Gruppe''); Italy (''componente''), and Poland (''koło'').
==Relationship with party== Generally, parliamentary groups have some independence from the wider party organisations. It is often thought improper for elected MPs to take instructions solely from non-elected party officials or from the small subset of the electorate represented by party members. In any case, the exigencies of government, the need to cooperate with other members of the legislature and the desire to retain the support of the electorate as a whole often preclude strict adherence to the wider party's wishes. The exact relationship between the parliamentary party and the party varies between countries, and also from party to party. For example, in some parties, the parliamentary and organisational leadership will be held by the same person or people, whether ''ex officio'' or not; other parties maintain a sharp distinction between the two offices. Nevertheless, in almost all cases, the parliamentary leader is the public face of the party, and wields considerable influence within the organisational wing, whether or not they hold any official position there.
==Leadership== A parliamentary group is typically led by a parliamentary group leader or chairperson, though some parliamentary groups have two or more ''co-leaders''. If the parliamentary group is represented in the legislature, the leader is almost always chosen from among the sitting members; if the leader does not yet have a seat in the legislature, a sitting member of the group may be expected to resign to make way for him or her. If the party is not represented in the legislature for the time being, the leader will often be put forward at a general election as the party's candidate for their most winnable seat. In some parties, the leader is elected solely by the members of the parliamentary group; in others, some or all members of the wider party participate in the election. Parliamentary groups often have one or more whips, whose role is to support the leadership by enforcing party discipline.
==Examples== {{see also|List of political groups by country|Parliamentary group (Mauritania)|Parliamentary group (Spain)}}
=== Armenia === In Armenia, political parties often form parliamentary groups before running in elections. Prior to the 2021 Armenian parliamentary elections, four different parliamentary groups were formed.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Opposition Alliance Rallies In Yerevan Ahead Of Early Poll|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-election-kocharian-rally-yerevan-karabakh/31315197.html|access-date=2021-06-19|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=18 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> A parliamentary group must pass the 7% electoral threshold in order to gain representation in the National Assembly.
=== Czech Republic === Higher electoral thresholds for parliamentary groups discourages the formation of parliamentary groups running in elections.
=== European Union === {{Main|Political groups of the European Parliament}} The parliamentary groups of the European Parliament must consist of no less than 25 MEPs from seven different EU member states. No party discipline is required. Parliamentary groups gain financial support and can join committees.
=== Germany === {{Main|Fraktion (Bundestag)|Parliamentary group (Germany)|Group status in German state parliaments}}
=== Hungary === Hungarian mixed-member majoritarian representation rewards the formation of parliamentary groups, like United for Hungary.
=== Italy === Italian parallel voting system rewards the formation of parliamentary groups like Centre-right coalition and Centre-left coalition.
=== Switzerland === In the Swiss Federal Assembly, at least five members are required to form a parliamentary group.<ref name=="swiss">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1999/404/en#a154 |title=Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation Art. 154 |access-date=2022-09-30 |archive-date=2021-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706145418/https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1999/404/en#a154 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The most important task is to delegate members to the commissions. The parliamentary groups are decisive in Swiss Federal Assembly and not the political parties, which are not mentioned in the parliamentary law.
===United Kingdom=== ;Conservative Party: Conservative Private Members' Committee (1922 Committee) ;Labour Party: Parliamentary Labour Party
====All-party parliamentary groups==== {{main|All-party parliamentary group}} In the United Kingdom Parliament there exist associations of MPs called "all-party parliamentary groups", which bring together members of different parliamentary groups who wish to involve themselves with a particular subject. This term is in a sense the opposite of the term 'parliamentary group', which designates a group that includes only members of the same party or electoral fusion.
==Parliamentary Friendship Groups== One special kind of parliamentary groups are the '''Parliamentary Friendship Groups''',<ref name="aph.gov.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Friendship|title=Parliamentary Friendship Groups (non-country)|website=Aph.gov.au|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="congreso.gob.pe">{{cite web |url=http://www4.congreso.gob.pe/_ingles/ligas-parlamentarias.htm |title=Congress of the Republic of Peru |access-date=2015-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919203725/http://www4.congreso.gob.pe/_ingles/ligas-parlamentarias.htm |archive-date=2015-09-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itamaraty.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6712:socialist-republic-of-vietnam&catid=155&lang=en&Itemid=478|title=Socialist Republic of Viet Nam|website=Itamaraty.gov.br|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="bundestag.de">{{cite web |url=http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/bundestag/international/int_bez/allgemein/245920 |title=German Bundestag - General information on the parliamentary friendship groups |access-date=2015-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320180551/http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/bundestag/international/int_bez/allgemein/245920 |archive-date=2015-03-20 }}</ref> also called '''Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Groups''',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.mn/en/foreignaffairs/categories/2537/pages/4414 |title=State Great Hural | INTER-PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUPS |access-date=2015-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115841/http://www.parliament.mn/en/foreignaffairs/categories/2537/pages/4414 |archive-date=2015-04-02 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://trm.md/en/economic/moldova-romania-i-cehia-s-au-reunit-intr-un-grup-interparlamentar-de-prietenie/ |title=Moldova, Romania and the Czech Republic gathered in an inter-parliame… |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150309121720/http://trm.md/en/economic/moldova-romania-i-cehia-s-au-reunit-intr-un-grup-interparlamentar-de-prietenie/ |archive-date=9 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="knesset.gov.il">{{cite web |url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/fadept/eng/FADeptFriendshipLeague_eng.htm |title=The Knesset Foreign Affairs Department |access-date=2015-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016114807/http://knesset.gov.il/fadept/eng/FADeptFriendshipLeague_eng.htm |archive-date=2013-10-16 }}</ref> '''Friendship Parliamentary Groups''',<ref name="cdep.ro">{{cite web|url=http://www.cdep.ro/pls/parlam/structura.pr?idg=&leg=2004&idl=2|title=STRUCTURE OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ROMANIA 2004-2008|website=Cdep.ro|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/425203--turkey-to-support-macedonia-on-international-scene|title=Turkey to support Macedonia on international scene|website=Anadolu Agency|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="vietnamplus.vn">{{cite web|url=http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Vietnamese-Brazilian-legislatures-enhance-cooperation/201411/58390.vnplus|title=Vietnamese, Brazilian legislatures enhance cooperation|date=24 November 2014|website=En.vietnamplus.vn|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> or '''Parliamentary Group of Friendship [and Cooperation]'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/parliamentary-group-of-friendship-and-cooperation-brazil-ecuador-will-visit-the-country/?lang=en|title=Parliamentary Group of Friendship and Cooperation Brazil – Ecuador will visit the country – Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana|website=Cancilleria.gob.ec|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>
"Parliamentary Friendship" groups are groups of congresspeople/members of parliament who voluntarily organise themselves to promote parliamentary relations between their own Parliament and another country's (or even a region's group of countries') parliament(s), and, in a broader scope, to foster the bilateral relations between said countries. Parliamentary friendship groups play an important role in New Zealand's engagement in inter-parliamentary relations, with group members often called upon to participate and host meetings for visiting delegations from the other part, as well as often being invited by the other country's parliament to visit it.<ref name="parlament.gov.rs">{{cite web|url=http://www.parlament.gov.rs/activities/international-cooperation/bilateral-activities/parliamentary-friendship-groups.603.html|title=National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia - Parliamentary friendship groups|website=Parlament.gov.rs|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="www.parliament.nz">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/about-parliament/how-parliament-works/relationships/00HOOOCMPPMPsFriendshipGroups1/parliamentary-friendship-groups |title=New Zealand Parliament - Parliamentary Friendship Groups |access-date=2015-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402160007/http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/about-parliament/how-parliament-works/relationships/00HOOOCMPPMPsFriendshipGroups1/parliamentary-friendship-groups |archive-date=2015-04-02 }}</ref>
Friendship Groups do not speak for the Government of their own country, or even for the whole of the Parliament/Congress to which they belong, as they are usually self-regulating and self-fulfilling.<ref name="www.parliament.nz"/>
Parliamentary Friendship Groups are active in the national congresses/parliaments of countries such as Armenia,<ref name="news.am">{{cite web|url=http://news.am/eng/news/78841.html|title=Armenia-Brazil parliamentary friendship group to be recovered|website=News.am|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> Australia,<ref name="aph.gov.au"/> Brazil,<ref name="vietnamplus.vn"/><ref name="news.am"/> Canada,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Friendship Groups - Interparliamentary Activities - Diplomacy - Parliament of Canada|url=https://www.parl.ca/diplomacy/en/friendship-groups|access-date=2021-10-08|website=www.parl.ca}}</ref> Germany,<ref name="bundestag.de"/> Israel,<ref name="knesset.gov.il"/> Laos,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.na.gov.la/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=63&Itemid=216&lang=en|title=List of Parliamentarians\Friendship Groups|website=Na.gov.la|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> New Zealand,<ref name="www.parliament.nz"/> Pakistan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.na.gov.pk/en/intro_relation.php|title=National Assembly of Pakistan|website=Na.gov.pk|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> Peru,<ref name="congreso.gob.pe"/> Romania,<ref name="cdep.ro"/> Serbia,<ref name="parlament.gov.rs"/> Slovenia,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dz-rs.si/wps/portal/en/Home/deloDZ/mednarodnaDejavnost/SkupinePrijateljstva |title=National Assembly - Parliamentary friendship groups |access-date=2015-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115751/https://www.dz-rs.si/wps/portal/en/Home/deloDZ/mednarodnaDejavnost/SkupinePrijateljstva |archive-date=2015-04-02 }}</ref> South Korea,<ref name="korea.assembly.go.kr">{{cite web|url=http://korea.assembly.go.kr/int/org_07.jsp|title=National Assembly of The Republic of Korea|website=korea.assembly.go.kr|access-date=25 December 2017}}</ref> Switzerland,<ref name="admin.ch">{{cite web|url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/usa/en/home/representations/embassy-washington/embassy-tasks/political-and-legal-affairs/friends.html|title=Friends of Switzerland Caucus|website=Eda.admin.ch|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> and the United States,<ref name="admin.ch"/> among many others.
==See also== * Caucus * Coalition * Political faction * Political organisation
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/groups/default_en.htm Political groups of the European Parliament] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20141024234810/http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/parliamentarygroups/index.htx Parliamentary groups of the Parliament of Finland] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120603113007/http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/english/main_bodies.asp#1_4_5 Parliamentary groups of the French parliament] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090727211001/http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/parliament/groups/index.html Parliamentary groups of the German parliament]
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Category:Organizational structure of political parties Category:Parliamentary groups Category:Political terminology Category:Westminster system Category:Types of groupings