Bloc party

A bloc party (German: Blockpartei), sometimes called a satellite party, is a political party that is a constituent member of an electoral bloc. However, the term also has a more specific meaning, referring to non-ruling but legal political parties in a one-party state (most notably communist states as auxiliary parties and members of a ruling coalition, differing such governments from pure one-party states such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union) although such minor parties rarely if ever constitute opposition parties or alternative sources of power.^[1] Other authoritarian regimes may also have multiple political parties which are nominally independent in order to give the appearance of political pluralism, but support or act in de facto cooperation with the government or ruling party.

^ Sartori, Giovanni (1976). Parties and Party Systems: A Framework for Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 230. ISBN 9780521212380; Lewis, Paul G. (2006). "Party States and State Parties". In Katz, Richard S.; Crotty, William (eds.). Handbook of Party Politics. London: SAGE Publishing. p. 476; Furtak, Robert K. (1986). The Political Systems of the Socialist States: An Introduction to Marxist-Leninist Regimes. Brighton: Wheatsheaf Books. p. 19.

[1] Sartori, Giovanni (1976). Parties and Party Systems: A Framework for Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 230. ISBN 9780521212380; Lewis, Paul G. (2006). "Party States and State Parties". In Katz, Richard S.; Crotty, William (eds.). Handbook of Party Politics. London: SAGE Publishing. p. 476; Furtak, Robert K. (1986). The Political Systems of the Socialist States: An Introduction to Marxist-Leninist Regimes. Brighton: Wheatsheaf Books. p. 19.

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