parliamentarism
Parliament-centered government system
Parliamentarism is a system of government where the executive branch derives its authority from the legislature and remains accountable to it.
The prime minister and cabinet hold power only while they maintain parliamentary confidence—losing a vote of no confidence typically triggers new elections or a change in government.
The term often contrasts with presidential systems, where executive and legislative branches operate more independently: France moved from parliamentarism to a hybrid system under de Gaulle.
Having two chambers
- unicameralOne legislative chamber
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- speakerOne who talks
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
majority · minority · session · quorum · whip · backbencher · frontbencher · crossbench
Right to cast ballots
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- votingFormally registering a choice
- ballotVoting document
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
majoritarianism · consensus · participation · opposition · multiparty · coalition · accountability · transparency
Amount owed, written
- statuteEnacted written rule
- enactmentPassing into law
- amendmentChange to official text
- actDeed or performance
ratification · codification · ordinance · regulation · provision · clause · resolution · reading
Careful weighing of choices
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
rebuttal · proposition · counterargument · heckling · filibuster · closure · yielding
Electoral district's voters
- electorateEligible voting body
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- delegateEntrust authority to another
- memberOne who belongs
backbencher · proportional · district · riding · ward · constituent · accountability · recall
bicameral
Having two chambers
- unicameralOne legislative chamber
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- speakerOne who talks
coalition · majority · minority · session · quorum · whip · backbencher · frontbencher · crossbench · prorogation
suffrage
Right to cast ballots
pluralism · majoritarianism · consensus · participation · opposition · multiparty · coalition · accountability · transparency · legitimacy
bill
Amount owed, written
act · ratification · codification · ordinance · regulation · provision · clause · resolution · reading · assent
deliberation
Careful weighing of choices
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
argumentation · rebuttal · proposition · counterargument · heckling · filibuster · closure · yielding
constituency
Electoral district's voters
- electorateEligible voting body
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- delegateEntrust authority to another
member · backbencher · proportional · district · riding · ward · constituent · accountability · recall · trustee
parliamentarismauthoritarianism
Concentrated, unchecked governmental power
autocracy · dictatorship · absolutism · despotism · absolute monarchy