A parliamentary vote is an election in which people choose their local representatives (MPs) to represent them in parliament. Normally a general election for parliament takes place every 5 years.
There are a variety of different electoral systems used to elect MPs. They vary in how proportional they are (whether seats in parliament reflect votes cast) and the extent to which candidates have a strong connection to their community. Use our electoral system filters to shuffle between them and see which ones best suit your preferences.
The main purpose of the European Parliament is to debate and scrutinise EU policies. Its Members represent the interests of the citizens of their countries and promote the fundamental values of the European Union – respect for human rights, democracy, equality and the rule of law.
In a parliamentary system laws are passed by a majority of the legislature and can only be blocked by a veto from the head of state. The legislative body can then override the veto with a supermajority of votes.
In a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is appointed by the Monarch or President of the Republic after recommendations from the leaders of the political parties in Folketinget (the parliament). If the parliament does not approve the government, it can be removed through a motion of no confidence. In the Republic of Estonia, the Riigikogu (the upper house) elects the Prime Minister candidate nominated by the President. The Prime Minister is then authorised to form a cabinet, which must be approved by the Riigikogu.