In politics the party that prevents the Government from running amuck by hamstringing it. The King of Ghargaroo, who had been abroad to study the science of government, appointed one hundred of his fattest subjects as members of a parliament to make laws for the collection of revenue. Forty of these he named the Party of Opposition and had his Prime Minister carefully instruct them in their duty of opposing every royal measure. Nevertheless, the first one that was submitted passed unanimously. Greatly displeased, the King vetoed it, informing the Opposition that if they did that again they would pay for their obstinacy with their heads. The entire forty promptly disemboweled themselves. "What shall we do now?" the King asked. "Liberal institutions cannot be maintained without a party of Opposition." "Splendor of the universe," replied the Prime Minister, "it is true these dogs of darkness have no longer their credentials, but all is not lost. Leave the matter to this worm of the dust." So the Minister had the bodies of his Majesty's Opposition embalmed and stuffed with straw, put back into the seats of power and nailed there. Forty votes were recorded against every bill and the nation prospered. But one day a bill imposing a tax on warts was defeated -- the members of the Government party had not been nailed to their seats! This so enraged the King that the Prime Minister was put to death, the parliament was dissolved with a battery of artillery, and government of the people, by the people, for the people perished from Ghargaroo.

The act of opposing; an attempt to check, restrain, or defeat; resistance.

That which opposes; an obstacle; specifically, the aggregate of persons or things opposing; hence, in politics and parliamentary practice, the party opposed to the party in power.

the party or parties in a legislative body that are against the party or parties that control the legislature.

The process by which a member of the public, or an interested third party may object to the registration of a trade mark.

The second-largest political party or coalition of parties after the Government party or coalition of parties, in the Legislative Assembly.

The major party, or coalition of parties in parliament which has the next highest number of votes.

The largest party not in government is known as the official opposition. It receives extra parliamentary funding in recognition of its status.

a political party opposed to the party in power and prepared to replace it if elected; "Her Majesty's loyal opposition"

an administrative proceeding conducted by the European patent office for challenging the validity, and requesting patent revocation, of issued European patents

a procedure for challenging the European Trademark application after the mark is published

a proceeding in which a third party objects to registration by alleging that a mark would conflict with a third party's rights in a prior registered or used mark

MLAs belonging to parties other than the governing party. In the Chamber, opposition MLAs sit across from the cabinet. The role of the opposition is to criticize government policies, suggest alternatives, and make sure the public is aware of what the government is doing or plans to do.

A request to the patent office by an opposing party that an application should be refused, or that a granted patent should be annulled.

The time period allowed for an interested party to post oppositions to the grant of a patent. For example, this may be up to nine months from the date of grant of a European patent.

The next, largest party or coalition of parties after the Government majority party, which shadows the Ministry and can provide an alternative government.

A procedure whereby an application made to a patent, designs or trademark office (such as IP Australia) can be challenged by a third party and ruled on by that office. Can lead to refusal of applications for registration.

The party, or coalition of parties in Parliament which has the next highest number of seats after the Government.

The second largest Party or grouping after the Government in the lower House.

The opposition is the party to whom a Cybersettle case is directed. An opposition party is either an attorney

The party or parties which do not hold sufficient seats in Parliament to form the Government.

A procedure in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office that allows interested people or organizations to oppose the registration of a mark.

The Opposition is the largest single party (or coalition) that is not in Government or in the Executive. In Westminster, the Opposition is traditionally referred to as Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition: no such tradition has arisen in the Scottish Parliament.

A procedure available in most countries, but not the U.S., whereby a third party may request that a patent not issue or that an issued patent be invalidated.

The party or parties that do not have sufficient seats in Parliament to form the Government.

All members of the losing party at an election become the Opposition and their leader is called the Leader of Opposition

the second largest party or group of parties in the House of Representatives after the government party. The opposition talks about what it thinks is wrong with what the government is doing.

A term derived from Westminster parliamentary practice that is commonly applied to those parties and groups in the Scottish Parliament that are not in the government. The more formal term is 'non-Executive' (as in non-Executive business, non-Executive party).

The Opposition in Malaysia is a term used to describe political parties represented in the Parliament of Malaysia that is not in government either on its own or as part of a governing coalition. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state.