A parliament is a legislature whose power and function are similar to those dictated by the Westminster system of the United Kingdom. More generally, "parliament" may simply refer to a democratic government's legislature. The term is derived from the French parlement, the action of parler (to speak): a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which such a discussion took place. It acquired its modern meaning as it came to be used for the body of people (in an institutional sense) who would meet to discuss matters of state.
Generally, a parliament has three functions: representation, legislation and parliamentary control (i.e., hearings, inquiries).
Read more about Parliament: Origins, Parliament Government, Proto-parliamentarian Institutions, Parliaments of The United Kingdom
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... Parliament had voted to raise an army to counter the Royalist one Charles was leading but it was collectively unsure about how to conduct it ... to such Instructions, as he shall, from Time to Time, receive from both Houses of Parliament," which was inevitably going to be a constraint on his ability to command ... This was a symbolic declaration of war against Parliament ...
... Parliament of Ireland (1297–1801) Parliament of Southern Ireland (1921–1922) People's Parliament (1940s) Silesian Parliament (1922–1945) Parliament of Northern Ireland (1921–1973) Batasang Pambansa (1978 ...
... The Acts of Union were two Acts of Parliament the Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act ... between commissioners representing the parliaments of the two countries. 1667, and 1689 to unite the two countries by Acts of Parliament, but it was not until the early 18th century that both political establishments came to ...
... with the emerging presbyterian faction in Parliament ... However this plan failed when Parliament disbanded Massey’s army in October 1646 ... His death not only weakened the presbyterian faction in Parliament, it also began the decline of the influence of the nobles who supported the Parliamentary cause ...
... The 24th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand ... The 24th Parliament was extended by one year because the 1935 election was held later than anticipated due to the ongoing depression, similarly the 1919, and the ... The Prime Minister during the 24th Parliament was George Forbes, leader of the United Party ...
Famous quotes containing the word parliament:
“The war shook down the Tsardom, an unspeakable abomination, and made an end of the new German Empire and the old Apostolic Austrian one. It ... gave votes and seats in Parliament to women.... But if society can be reformed only by the accidental results of horrible catastrophes ... what hope is there for mankind in them? The war was a horror and everybody is the worse for it.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“Undershaft: Alcohol is a very necessary article. It heals the sick—Barbara: It does nothing of the sort. Undershaft: Well, it assists the doctor: that is perhaps a less questionable way of putting it. It makes life bearable to millions of people who could not endure their existence if they were quite sober. It enables Parliament to do things at eleven at night that no sane person would do at eleven in the morning.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“What is the historical function of Parliament in this country? It is to prevent the Government from governing.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)