A parliamentary vote is the process by which legislators in parliaments around the world vote on legislation and other items of business. Parliamentary systems vary in how they function, but all are based on the principle that voters elect representatives to represent them in legislatures and hold those legislators accountable for the policies they pursue.
Most parliamentary democracies have executive branches that carry out the day-to-day business of government under the guidance and direction of the Prime Minister, who is usually a leader of a political party. Some of these systems have special constitutional courts that have the right to judicial review and may state that laws passed by Parliament violate provisions of the supreme law of the nation, or constitution.
Voting in parliamentary sessions takes place either by show of hands, by a roll-call or secret ballot. A show of hands presumes that the MPs who are present are voting in favour of a particular piece of legislation on behalf of their entire political group. However, an MP has the right to request that a roll-call be taken, which means that each MP must say who they are voting for or against and the President of the House counts their votes individually.
Parliamentary systems generally have more serious debates and more frequent elections than presidential systems. In addition, in some countries, the Prime Minister has the power to call a general election before the end of a parliamentary term under certain, unique conditions such as a no-confidence motion against his or her government or an extended period of legislative deadlock.
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