enamushaldus

Enamushaldus is a political science term used to describe a governance style in which policy decisions are primarily driven by the numerical majority within a governing body. The word is formed from the Estonian enamus meaning "majority" and haldus meaning "administration" and is used in discussions of representative democracy to denote the dynamics by which the majority coalition or party can push legislation with limited formal vetoes from minorities. The precise definition varies by author and country, and the term is most often applied descriptively rather than as a prescriptive model.

Characteristics commonly associated with enamushaldus include an agenda set by the majority, rapid policy passage, and greater political efficiency when parties align. Potential drawbacks include the risk of neglecting minority rights, reduced deliberation, and susceptibility to majoritarian overreach. In response, many systems incorporate safeguards such as constitutional protections for minorities, independent judiciaries, deliberative institutions, proportional representation elements, or rules requiring broader consensus for certain types of decisions. The term is widely discussed in comparative politics and public administration but is not a formal doctrine; its emphasis and boundaries depend on institutional design and discourse in each jurisdiction.