A parliamentary vote is the method of selecting representatives to parliament using a proportional representation system. Parliamentary systems vary in the details of how they work – for example, how constituencies are drawn; whether they are organized on a territorial basis or based on functional districts; and what kind of electoral system is used (e.g., first past the post or a hybrid multi-member proportional (MMP) system that includes both single-member district votes and party list allocations).
The MMP approach also differs in how ministers are selected. Some countries use strict monism, requiring all members of the legislature to be members of the cabinet; others, like India, only require the president to select ministers from within parliament; and still others (like Bangladesh) permit extra-parliamentary ministers to serve in the executive.
Some parliamentary systems have additional mechanisms for checking the power of government, such as a prime minister’s veto or a requirement that government policies be voted on and approved by parliament before they take effect. These are important check-and-balance functions that help to prevent dictatorships and ensure a functioning democracy.
In the UK, for instance, a prime minister who loses popular support can be replaced by his or her own peers with a new leader, as was the case with David Cameron and Theresa May. The parliamentary system also allows for serious debate and gives voters the option of changing governments through elections at any time – a feature that Walter Bagehot praised in his 1867 book, The English Constitution.
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