Parlamento

Parlamento is a term used in several Romance-language countries to denote the principal legislative body of a state or region. Etymologically, it derives from the French parlement, from Latin parliamentum. In Italian, Parlamento refers to the national legislature; in Spanish and Portuguese contexts, parlamento is often used as a generic term for legislative assemblies, including regional bodies. Official names of national bodies vary (for example, Italy’s Parlamento, Spain’s Cortes Generales, Portugal’s Assembleia da República), but parlamento is widely understood as the lawmaking and oversight institution of government.

The core functions of a parlamento include debating, drafting, and enacting laws; approving budgets and financial measures; scrutinizing government actions and holding public officials to account; ratifying international treaties; and representing the interests of citizens and regions. In bicameral systems, the two chambers may have distinct roles, such as different methods of representation or areas of policy focus, while unicameral systems consolidate legislative power in a single chamber.

Structure and operation typically involve elected representatives serving fixed terms, with sessions that are public. Law-making proceeds through committees that study proposals, followed by debates, floor votes, and the formal assent of the head of state or another designated authority. Political parties and parliamentary groups organize work, and procedures govern quorum, amendments, and majority thresholds.

Variations exist across countries. Some parlamentos are bicameral, others unicameral. Examples include Italy’s bicameral Parlamento, Spain’s Cortes Generales, and Portugal’s unicameral Assembleia da República. Regional or autonomous parliaments, such as the Parlament de Catalunya, illustrate how the concept adapts to federal or decentralized systems.