thumb|upright=1|right|On this 2012 Mexican ballot, voters have more than two parties to choose from. Multi-party systems are systems in which more than two parties have a realistic chance of holding power and influencing policy. A very large number of systems around the world have had periods of multi-party competition, and two-party democracies may be considered unusual or uncommon compared to multi-party systems. Many of the largest democracies in the world have had long periods of multi-party competition, including India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Brazil. Multi-party systems encourage characteristically different types of governance than smaller party systems, for example by often encouraging the formation of coalition governments.
thumb|upright=1|right|On this 2012 Mexican ballot voters have more than two parties to choose from Multi-party systems are systems in which more than two parties have a realistic chance of holding power and influencing policy A very large number of systems around the world have had periods of multi-party competition and two-party democracies may be considered unusual or uncommon compared to multi-party systems Many of the largest democracies in the world have had long periods of multi-party competition including India Indonesia Pakistan and Brazil Multi-party systems encourage characteristically different types of governance than smaller party systems for example by often encouraging the formation of coalition governments