What Parliament

What is Parliament?At first glance, very very simple question.However, many social surveys show that many of our fellow citizens in a more detailed explanation starting to get confused and not very clear about the features peculiar to this concept.So let's see what parliament.When and why it arose, what its essence.And sushestvuet an alternative to this concept in the modern world.

What is Parliament?History of

Such a body existed in ancient times.So the Senate of the Roman Republic was the first such full-fledged government.However, the prototype of the Parliament may be called and the Greek Areopagus, various councils of elders or military advice.In the Middle Ages were the kind of advisory body to the monarch noble advice.The States-General in France, Boyar Duma and the Zemsky Sobor in Moscow State Cortes in Spain, Landsraty in some German states.The powers of Parliament in different periods of European history (it was the brainchild of Europe) have changed significantly.In the period to strengthen the monarchy, the so-called absolutism, aristocratic advice in many countries it has become merely advisory bodies that do not have any significant impact on the country's politics.And if not abolished king.Its rebirth Parliament has received in modern times, when Europe shirilis doctrine of civil rights and the people as the highest authority.In the context of democratization of societies it again, as once in the Greek city, needed a representative authority.They became parliament have at their disposal the legislative power.The concept of regularly re-elected the Board of Deputies as the representative body of all categories of the population has become so popular that in the XX century, has spread across the globe.

How to be today without Parliament?

Interestingly, a different historical experience for each of the modern states gave their own device system of government.For some quite extraordinary.Thus, the modern Vatican is the only country in the world with the spiritual leader of the theocratic control as head of state.The Legislative Council is simply not needed.And I could not get along as too cumbersome body.Moreover, contrary to the meaning of existence as an independent Vatican residence of the Papal control.In today's Brunei also no parliament.The absolute head of state is the local sultan, to concentrate all power in his hands.And the government they formed mainly of representatives of the family.

What is parliament and what it is today

However, the vast majority of modern states have a parliamentary system is.Although there have their own differences.Thus, a number of European countries have a bicameral legislative council.Most often, it is rather a tribute to the distinguished aristocratic birth who sit in the upper house.In England, for example, the so-called House of Lords.The elections to the upper house of parliament that are not provided at all.It consists of appointed for life and hereditary representatives.The powers of the House of Lords, however, too small.And they are made in the lower house of pending bills and the possibility of imposing a veto or delay.The US also bicameral parliament.Here, however, the Chamber does not have any relation to tradition.Senate and House of Representatives of different powers.And they set up as an additional lever to prevent the usurpation of power.Most modern parliamentary councils have only one chamber and are the legislative bodies.Although in particular cases have different authorities on the government or the president.So in Italy the president is elected by the House of Deputies, and Spanish King Juan Carlos himself forms the government.Unlike the Spanish, Ukrainian parliament has the authority to form the Cabinet.