A system or principle based on the idea that power and decisions are shared equally among members of a group rather than held by a single leader.
From collegial (relating to colleagues sharing authority) + -ism (a system or belief). Collegial comes from Latin collegium meaning 'association of colleagues.' The -ism suffix makes it a noun describing the practice or ideology itself.
Collegialism was a major political structure in Venice's government and the early Christian church—instead of kings, councils of equals made decisions together. It's one reason democratic systems evolved: people realized shared power could actually work better than absolute rule!
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