parliamentary system I

Westminster Parliamentary System

A specific version of parliamentary government identified as the Westminster model.

Constitutional Monarchy

Establishes that all acts of government and the legislature are carried out in the name of the Crown.

Parliamentary Supremacy

Asserts that as long as the legislature and the monarchy act in concert, there are few limits to what they can do.

Dual Executive

A formal executive (monarch) and a political executive (prime minister) in a parliamentary system.

Fusion of Powers

A union of the executive and legislative functions in the same institution.

Head of State

The formal executive (monarch or governor general) who acts only when the continuity of the state is in question.

Head of Government

The political executive (prime minister) who assumes the role of chief executive in a parliamentary system.

Responsible Government

The convention that requires the executive (cabinet) to command the support of a majority of the legislature.

Collective Responsibility

The convention that requires all members of the cabinet to support and be bound by the decisions of the cabinet.

Westminster Model

A specific version of parliamentary government identified as the Westminster model.

Parliamentary Government

A system of government where the executive is accountable to the legislature.

Constitutional Design

The way in which a government is structured and the institutions and offices that perform the various functions of government.

Representative Democracy

A system of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Liberal Foundation

A basis of respect for the rule of law and personal liberties in a parliamentary system.

Parliamentary System

An alternative way of organizing government that structures the institutions and offices that perform the various functions of government.

Arbitrary Exercise of Authority

The desire to avoid the exercise of authority without accountability in a parliamentary system.

Absolutist Medieval Monarchies

The monarchies that existed during the medieval period with absolute power.

Limited Role for a Monarch

Some parliamentary systems retain a limited role for a monarch.

Presidential Model

Many parliamentary systems follow the presidential model and eliminate the monarch altogether.

Parliament

The legislative body in a parliamentary system that is divided into government and opposition.

Government

The party or coalition of parties that has the majority in parliament and forms the executive branch.

Opposition

The party or parties that do not have the majority in parliament and serve as a check on the government.

Constitutional Monarchy

The notion that all acts of government and the legislature require the assent of the sovereign.

Parliamentary Systems

Systems of government that have become republics have had to either abandon the notion of constitutional monarchy altogether or find some type of substitute.

Nonviolent Protest Strategies

Rallies, sit-ins, marches, petitions, and boycotts used by parliamentary systems to bring about change.

Cabinet

The institution that fuses the executive and legislative functions in a parliamentary system.

Union of the Executive and Legislative Functions

The fusion of powers in the parliamentary system that creates a powerful, united party government.

Formal Executive

The monarch or their representative who personifies the formal executive in a parliamentary system.

Political Executive

The prime minister who assumes the role of chief executive in a parliamentary system.

Discretionary Power

The power that the prime minister exercises as the head of government in a parliamentary system.

Traditional Authority

Power enjoyed by individuals who are anointed by God or the gods to lead their society.

Majority Support

All major measures proposed by the cabinet must receive the support of a majority in the legislature.

Government Policy

All members of the cabinet are expected to support and be bound by the decisions of the cabinet.

Ministerial Responsibility

Ministers are individually responsible to parliament for the actions taken by their departments.

Scope of Government

The extent to which government is involved in various aspects of society and the economy.

Public Servants

Non-elected officials who handle policy and are responsible for the day-to-day management of government departments.