Parliament is a legislative body where elected officials gather to make laws and decisions for a country or state.
The role of parliament is to represent the citizens of a country or state and create laws and policies that benefit them.
The frequency of parliament meetings can vary depending on the country or state, but it is usually several times a week.
A quorum refers to the minimum number of members required to be present in order for parliament to conduct its business.
A majority in parliament refers to more than half of the members needed to pass a decision or vote on a certain issue.
A motion is a proposal made by a member of parliament for a certain action to be taken by the legislature.
A bill is a proposed law that is introduced and debated in parliament before it can become a a law.
A vote of no confidence is a parliamentary procedure where members vote on whether they have confidence in the current government and its leadership.
Delays in passing legislation can happen due to a variety of factors, such as lengthy debates, disagreements among members, or technical issues.
An error message in parliament can refer to a technical error or glitch that occurs during a parliamentary session or the failure of a motion or bill to pass.
Parliament typically has a dress code to maintain a level of formality and decorum during debates and meetings.
A point of order is a procedural request or objection raised by a member of parliament regarding a rule or procedure being violated.
A division is a parliamentary voting method where members physically divide into groups (e.g. ayes and noes) to indicate their support or opposition to a motion or bill.
Some parliaments have different chambers (such as the House of Commons and House of Lords in the UK) in order to have a system of checks and balances and to ensure a fair representation of different perspectives.
Committee members are typically chosen by their respective party leaders or by a nomination process within the parliament.
These titles are given to certain members who are responsible for specific roles and tasks within parliament, such as presiding over meetings or representing the opposing party.
A recess is a break in parliamentary activity, typically used to conduct research, meet with constituents, or attend to other government duties.
A filibuster is a tactic used by members to extend a debate or delay a vote on a bill by speaking for an extended period of time.
Parliamentary debates typically have a set structure, where members take turns speaking and are given a specific amount of time to present their arguments.
A whip is a member of parliament who is responsible for ensuring that their party's members vote as expected on specific issues.
Members may switch parties due to personal beliefs or values not aligning with their current party, or for strategic reasons such as gaining more influence within a different party.
A point of privilege is a procedural matter raised by a member that may affect their rights, dignity, or reputation in parliament.
Parliamentary records are typically kept in official journals or transcripts of debates and meetings.
A by-election is an election held to fill a vacant seat in parliament, either due to a member's resignation, death, or disqualification.
Having access to parliamentary proceedings allows the public to stay informed about government decisions and hold their elected representatives accountable for their actions.
A hung parliament refers to a situation where no party or coalition has a clear majority in the legislature, making it difficult to pass legislation or form a stable government.
A proportional voting system allocates seats based on the proportion of votes received by each party, while a winner-takes-all voting system gives all seats to the party that wins the majority of votes.