The parliamentary vote is a way of expressing the will of a deliberative assembly. The members of the assembly take action on proposals submitted for consideration in the form of motions. A proposal can be classified as a main motion, which introduces a proposition, or as an amendment, which modifies to some degree the intent of the main motion. Only one main motion may be voted on at a time. Other questions of order and business may be addressed in the course of debate, but the main motion always takes precedence.
The political party or coalition of parties that make up a majority in parliament selects a prime minister and department ministers. A prime minister is either the leader of the majority party or, in some countries with a hereditary monarchy, the head of state; in a republic, the president or chancellor.
Advocates of the parliamentary system argue that it is more efficient than a presidential system, because it does not require a separate executive branch to check the power of the legislative branch, or to work out conflicting agendas with different departments. A parliamentary government is also less susceptible to the kind of paralyzing gridlocks that can occur in a presidential system where the roles of the two branches are blurred or merged.
The rules governing the proceedings of a parliamentary assembly are usually based on Robert’s Rules of Order, which provides for free and open debate. To speak, a member must rise and address the presiding officer (chairperson) and secure recognition. A member may speak without limit on any question, but debate is conducted in the same manner as any other matter before the assembly, and members must confine remarks to the issue under consideration, avoid personal attacks, and refrain from arraigning motives.
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