Parliamentary vote is a form of democracy in which representatives are elected through a plurality system wherein the candidate who receives the most votes in a specific area is declared to be the member of parliament (MP) for that constituency. This method of voting is common in countries of the Commonwealth and those influenced by British political tradition.
The parliamentary vote is generally administered by Robert’s Rules of Order, which is the codification of commonly accepted rules for deliberative assemblies. These rules are meant to maintain decorum, to ascertain the will of the majority, to protect the rights of minorities, and to facilitate the orderly transaction of business in the assembly.
A motion is a proposal submitted to the presiding officer for consideration and action of the assembly. The mover rises and addresses the chair to secure recognition, and the proposal is then “stated.” A motion may be classified as a main motion or a secondary motion. Main motions are usually considered first and are given precedence over all other questions.
Some parliamentary systems allow members of the public to select an individual to serve as their Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is then responsible for forming an executive cabinet of ministry heads. The government is held accountable to the parliament through periodic parliamentary elections and may be dissolved when a vote of no confidence in the governing body is passed.