Many nations around the world use a parliamentary vote system that shapes the way their nation runs and develops. This type of government allows citizens to choose a political party and allocate seats based on the percentage of votes cast.
At the heart of a parliamentary system is a parliament where legislators debate issues and pass laws. The legislative branch of a parliamentary system is called a House of Representatives or Congress. The executive branch is known as a Cabinet or Government. In some parliamentary systems the roles of the legislative and executive branches are blurred or merged, while in others they exist as separate entities.
Most parliamentary systems employ either a plurality or proportional representation voting method for elections. In a plurality system, each voter selects the candidates for whom they would like to vote (at large election). In a proportional system voters mark a number next to the name of their chosen political party and the number of seats allocated to that party (closed list system). The total number of members elected is then calculated from the combined votes for all parties (first past the post).
Once the parliament’s elected representatives are seated in office, they begin to debate important issues and pass laws for the good of their country. Legislators must respect the rules of the house and follow parliamentary procedure when debating legislation. The parliamentary vote requires a majority to pass a bill or resolution. If a majority of the members do not approve of a law passed by the House, the member who sponsored the law can ask to have it reconsidered in a “dissolution” or special session.