Many nations around the world use a parliamentary system of government, shaped by their unique political systems and institutions. While most people are familiar with the presidential system used in the United States, parliamentary governments also have their own unique institutions and practices that shape the way countries function.
In a parliamentary system, laws are passed by the legislative body called parliament. Depending on the country, parliament may be bicameral (two chambers) or unicameral (one chamber). The legislature votes for laws that then go to the head of state, who can sign them into law or return them to parliament with their assent or veto.
The head of state is usually the monarch, queen, or governor general. In parliamentary systems, the roles of legislative and executive branches are blurred or merged. In addition, most parliamentary systems have a supreme court that can judicially review laws to make sure they don’t violate the constitution or national law.
In parliamentary debate, most of the rules of procedure come from Robert’s Rules of Order, first published in 1876 and revised over time. These rules are intended to maintain decorum, ascertain the will of the group, and protect the rights of individuals and groups in deliberative assemblies. For example, the rule that one subject should be discussed at a time means that the motion to introduce another can only be considered after the previous question has been decided. This is not meant to prevent serious or lengthy debates but is intended to avoid the confusion of multiple subjects being under consideration at once.
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