Full slate

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Any political party or faction that seeks to form a majority in a parliament or on a board of directors or other responsible body typically must run a full slate if only to demonstrate that they have the capacity to attract the talent to fill every position with some person, even if that person is not ideal for the job. Failure to do so is normally taken as a signal of a lack of confidence in the leadership of the faction or party, since it should be possible in a well-run organization to find someone willing to at least run for a job they are not fit to perform, to show solidarity.

Major political parties tend to be able to take a full slate for granted: all the positions they run for, they have some chance of winning, and the party is well-funded, and people can gain contacts and prestige from running for that party. It will likewise have even less of a problem filling its internal roles.

While a minor political party may have little trouble filling its own officer positions or Shadow Cabinet, these deploying the little power it has, it will likely have much more trouble offering candidates for every legislative position in every electoral district. The so-called "parachute candidates" who run for election in a district that is not their own home nor where they necessarily have close ties, are always a means to achieve a full slate or close to it. This demonstrates solidarity and allows people to vote for a party but is not typically understood as a serious offering for the person to take the job. It is considered to be a highly questionable practice by most who advocate electoral reform, in part to get rid of any necessity to engage in such tricks.

In some countries, states, provinces or territories, running a full slate seems to be a pre-requisite for media coverage or participation in a televised leaders' debate such as the United States presidential election debates.

In a presidential system like the United States there are other ballot access and media access issues but being able to run in every U.S. electoral district and "on the ballot" in every state, is certainly one of the signs of being a "major" party.