Changes

==Organization==

==Organization==

The Members of Parliament (MPs) usually represent a political party.  Each party is formed by people with broadly similar political views.  In most cases, MPs are elected by the population according to one of a number of electoral systems.  Some parliaments use a "first-past-the-post" system where each MP represents a constituency and is the candidate who received the most votes from residents of the constituency.  Other parliaments use a proportional representation system, where the number of MPs from each political party is proportional to the total votes for that party across the whole electorate.  There are many other varieties of voting systems, most of which are variations on these two themes.  In rare cases (for example the British House of Lords), the members are not elected by the population but are appointed in some other way.

The [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) usually represent a political party.  Each party is formed by people with broadly similar political views.  In most cases, [[MP|MPs]] are elected by the population according to one of a number of electoral systems.  Some parliaments use a "first-past-the-post" system where each [[MP]] represents a constituency and is the candidate who received the most votes from residents of the constituency.  Other parliaments use a proportional representation system, where the number of [[MP|MPs]] from each political party is proportional to the total votes for that party across the whole electorate.  There are many other varieties of voting systems, most of which are variations on these two themes.  In rare cases (for example the British House of Lords), the members are not elected by the population but are appointed in some other way.

Many parliaments are made up of two different houses - for example the House of Representatives and the Senate in Australia.  The voting systems of the two houses are usually different meaning the mix of MPs from the various parties will also generally differ.

Many parliaments are made up of two different houses - for example the House of Representatives and the Senate in Australia.  The voting systems of the two houses are usually different meaning the mix of MPs from the various parties will also generally differ.

Usually in a parliamentary system, the government is formed by MPs from the party which has the majority of members.  The leader of that party is the head of government, often called the Prime Minister.  As the government party has a majority of members, it can usually expect to win any votes in the parliament.  In the situation where no one party has a majority, there are two possibilities. A minority goverment with members of one party only, which must rely on the support from members of other parties to win votes. The other possibility is a formal arrangement between two or more parties to form a coalition government with a majority of votes, where the government members are from all coalition partners.

Usually in a parliamentary system, the government is formed by [[MP|MPs]] from the party which has the majority of members.  The leader of that party is the head of government, often called the [[Prime Minister]].  As the government party has a majority of members, it can usually expect to win any votes in the parliament.  In the situation where no one party has a majority, there are two possibilities. A minority goverment with members of one party only, which must rely on the support from members of other parties to win votes. The other possibility is a formal arrangement between two or more parties to form a coalition government with a majority of votes, where the government members are from all coalition partners.

This contrasts to presidential systems, where the members of the government (in particular the President) are not members of the legislature.

This contrasts to presidential systems, where the members of the government (in particular the President) are not members of the legislature.

The Prime Minister is not elected for a fixed term, but serves for as long as he has the "confidence" of Parliament -- that is, as long as he enjoys their support.  Usually, the Prime Minister (and the rest of the government) is removed after an election at which his party failed to retain a majority in parliament.  Occasionally, most often during a period of minority government, the Prime Minister is removed upon losing a vote of no confidence, or resigns after losing a major vote on an issue they have championed (as [[Italy|Italian]] Prime Minister [[Romano Prodi]] did in February 2007).  In other cases members of the government party may choose to change their leader in which case the new leader becomes Prime Minister, as happened to [[Margaret Thatcher]] in [[Britain]] in 1990.

The [[Prime Minister]] is not elected for a fixed term, but serves for as long as he has the "confidence" of Parliament -- that is, as long as he enjoys their support.  Usually, the [[Prime Minister]] (and the rest of the government) is removed after an election at which his party failed to retain a majority in parliament.  Occasionally, most often during a period of minority government, the [[Prime Minister]] is removed upon losing a vote of no confidence, or resigns after losing a major vote on an issue they have championed (as [[Italy|Italian]] [[Prime Minister]] [[Romano Prodi]] did in February 2007).  In other cases members of the government party may choose to change their leader in which case the new leader becomes Prime Minister, as happened in to [[Margaret Thatcher]] in [[Britain]] in 1990.

First-past-the-post elections are more likely to produce a parliament with two major parties, making minority government unlikely.  Proportional voting systems allow third parties a chance to win some representation if they can win a small amount of the national vote without winning a majority of any districts. They are more likely to result in a minority or coalition government. In order to make it easier to form a majority government, proportional voting systems often favor large parties for example through thresholds or the way the number of seats are calculated from the votes.

First-past-the-post elections are more likely to produce a parliament with two major parties, making minority government unlikely.  Proportional voting systems allow third parties a chance to win some representation if they can win a small amount of the national vote without winning a majority of any districts. They are more likely to result in a minority or coalition government. In order to make it easier to form a majority government, proportional voting systems often favor large parties for example through thresholds or the way the number of seats are calculated from the votes.