parlamentaarinen

Parlamentaarinen, in political science, refers to a system of government in which the executive derives its legitimacy from and remains dependent on the support of the parliament. In a parlamentaarinen system, the government is typically led by a prime minister or equivalent who serves as the head of government, while the head of state—such as a monarch or a largely ceremonial president—has mostly symbolic duties. The executive and legislative branches are closely connected, and the cabinet is usually drawn from members of the parliament.

A key feature is the fusion of powers: the government must retain the confidence of the parliamentary majority to stay in office. Legislation and policy require parliamentary approval, and governments can be dismissed through a vote of no confidence or by their defeat on major measures. If the government loses support, it may resign or call elections, leading to a new cabinet formed by the party or coalition with parliamentary backing. Coalitions are common, particularly in multi-party systems, and stability often hinges on coalition agreements.

Parlamentaarinen democracies are widespread in Europe and the Commonwealth. Examples include the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Canada, and Australia. These states are frequently constitutional monarchies (with largely ceremonial heads of state) or republics where the prime minister or equivalent leads government. The system contrasts with presidential systems, where the executive is elected independently of the legislature and may have fixed terms, and with semi-presidential systems that mix elements of both.