Ingrid D'Aulaire, age 12, of Helena, Mont., for her question:

WHAT IS A COALITION?

A coalition is a combination of members of several political parties to run a country's government. It is often used as a way of getting all parties to work together in a national emergency.

During both World Wars I and II, the British government was run by such a coalition.

Coalition governments are most common in countries where there are many political parties and where a single party seldom wins a majority in the legislature or parliament.

The term "coalition" is also used to describe an alliance of several nations against other countries. Coalitions of nations are often formed shortly before or during wars.

World Wars I and II were fought between coalitions of nations.