The coalition and fund, based in Chicago, were incorporated, meaning that their funds were classified as corporate and subject to federal campaign finance laws.

Both sides are relying on historical models in trying to assemble winning coalitions, based on appeals to different parts of the state and different voting groups.

It is a coalition, based on the idea that we are stronger standing together than apart.

The coalition, based in Washington, was formed by business leaders last year to promote corporate action on AIDS.

Proportional representation (plurinominal) seats are assigned to the coalition based on the percentage of votes obtained in the elections, and then the coalition re-assigns them to the constituent political parties.

Known to his opponents as "the oil tycoon," Mr. Filimonov, 58 and wary, sees politics shifting from divisions based on attitudes toward Communism to coalitions based on common interests.

Women Vs. Smoking Network, a coalition of women's groups based in Washington, said there were parallels between Dakota and Uptown.

The coalition, based on this ruling, becomes extremely significant in the year 2000 race.

Its name is a reference to the Pan-Blue Coalition and the Pan-Green Coalition, two political coalitions also based in Taiwan.