Parliamentary system

A parliamentary system is a form of government based on an executive branch dependent on the confidence of the legislative branch. In this system the head of government (chief executive) derives their democratic legitimacy from their ability to command the support ("confidence") of a majority of the parliament, to which they are held accountable. This head of government is usually, but not always, distinct from a ceremonial head of state. This is in contrast to a presidential or assembly-independent system, which features a president whose power is balanced against the legislature and the judiciary, and cannot be replaced by a simple majority vote.

Countries with parliamentary systems may be constitutional monarchies, where a monarch is the head of state, or parliamentary republics, where a mostly ceremonial president is the head of state, while the head of government, commonly referred to as prime minister, is almost always a member of parliament. In some countries, the head of government is also head of state but is elected by the legislature. In bicameral parliaments, the head of government is generally, though not always, a member of the lower house. Typically, the head of state in a parliamentary republic is elected by popular vote; however, in some cases they are elected by an electoral college (e.g. Germany) or by members of parliament (e.g. Italy) in a special process.

Parliamentary systems are the predominant form of government in the European Union, Oceania, and throughout the former British Empire, with other users scattered throughout Africa and Asia. A similar system, called a council–manager government, is used by many local governments in the United States.