A report on Westminster system
Type of parliamentary government that incorporates a series of procedures for operating a legislature.
- Westminster system55 related topics with Alpha
Prime minister
11 linksHead of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system.
Head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system.
In parliamentary systems fashioned after the Westminster system, the prime minister is the presiding and actual head of government and head/owner of the executive power.
Parliamentary system
9 linksSystem of democratic governance of a state where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support ("confidence") of the legislature, typically a parliament, to which it is accountable.
System of democratic governance of a state where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support ("confidence") of the legislature, typically a parliament, to which it is accountable.
Elsewhere in the world, parliamentary countries are less common, but they are distributed through all continents, most often in former colonies of the British Empire that subscribe to a particular brand of parliamentarianism known as the Westminster system.
Legislature
8 linksAssembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city.
Assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city.
In Westminster-style legislatures the executive (composed of the cabinet) can essentially pass any laws it wants, as it usually has a majority of legislators behind it, kept in check by the party whip, while committee-based legislatures in continental Europe and those in presidential systems of the Americas have more independence in drafting and amending bills.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
6 linksSupreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories.
Supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories.
With the global expansion of the British Empire, the UK Parliament has shaped the political systems of many countries as ex-colonies and so it has been called the "Mother of Parliaments".
Cabinet (government)
6 linksBody of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders.
Body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders.
Legally, under both types of system, the Westminster variant of a parliamentary system and the presidential system, the Cabinet "advises" the Head of State: the difference is that, in a parliamentary system, the monarch, viceroy or ceremonial president will almost always follow this advice, whereas, in a presidential system, a president who is also head of government and political leader may depart from the Cabinet's advice if they do not agree with it.
British Empire
4 linksComposed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states.
Composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states.
As a result, its constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy is widespread.
Loss of supply
5 linksLoss of supply occurs where a government in a parliamentary democracy using the Westminster System or a system derived from it is denied a supply of treasury or exchequer funds, by whichever house or houses of parliament or head of state is constitutionally entitled to grant and deny supply.
Motion of no confidence
8 linksStatement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility (government, management, etc.) is still deemed fit to hold that position, such as because they are inadequate in some aspect, fail to carry out their obligations, or make decisions that other members feel to be detrimental.
Statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility (government, management, etc.) is still deemed fit to hold that position, such as because they are inadequate in some aspect, fail to carry out their obligations, or make decisions that other members feel to be detrimental.
Traditionally, in the Westminster system, the defeat of a supply bill, which concerns the spending of money, is seen to require automatically for the government to resign or ask for a new election, much like a no-confidence vote.
Executive (government)
5 linksPart of government that enforces law, and has responsibility for the governance of a state.
Part of government that enforces law, and has responsibility for the governance of a state.
In the Westminster type of parliamentary system, the principle of separation of powers is not as entrenched as in some others.
Responsible government
2 links
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.