crossbenchers
Neither government nor opposition
Crossbenchers are members of a parliament who sit on the benches between the government and opposition parties, indicating they belong to neither.
The term is primarily British, referring to independent or minor-party members of the House of Lords or similar chambers: The crossbenchers held the deciding votes on the bill.
They occupy a middle position both physically and politically.
National legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- upper houseBicameral legislature's senior chamber
- House of LordsBritain's senior parliamentary body
chamber · backbencher · frontbencher · whip · caucus · division · vote · amendment
Free from external control
- unaffiliatedNot formally connected
- nonalignedNot allied with superpowers
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
- neutralNot favoring any side
free agent · unattached · maverick · swing voter · persuadable · undecided · centrist · moderate
Vitally important, deciding
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- powerbrokerWielder of political influence
- swing voteBallot determining close outcomes
balance of power · tiebreaker · leverage · bargaining · negotiation · coalition · compromise · concession
parliament
National legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- upper houseBicameral legislature's senior chamber
House of Lords · chamber · backbencher · frontbencher · whip · caucus · division · vote · amendment · bill
independent
Free from external control
- unaffiliatedNot formally connected
- nonalignedNot allied with superpowers
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
neutral · free agent · unattached · maverick · swing voter · persuadable · undecided · centrist · moderate · nonpartisan
pivotal
Vitally important, deciding
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- powerbrokerWielder of political influence
swing vote · balance of power · tiebreaker · leverage · bargaining · negotiation · coalition · compromise · concession · bloc
- parliamentparliament, bills, votes, vote, debate
- political oppositionopposition party, opposition leader, minority party, minority leader, loyal opposition
crossbenchersparty members
People in political organization
frontbenchers · backbenchers · party faithful · cabinet ministers · tribalists
crossbenchersopposition benches
Parliamentary minority's designated seating
frontbench · shadow cabinet · cabinet ministers · party whips · shadow ministers