parlementarisches

Parlementarisches is the inflected form of the German adjective parlamentarisch, meaning parliamentary or relating to a parliament. The noun Parlament, borrowed from the French parlement and ultimately from Latin, has long been used in German to refer to a representative legislative body. The term denotes both the institution itself and things connected with it.

In political science, a parliamentary system describes a form of government in which the executive is drawn from the legislature and depends on its confidence. The cabinet or prime minister/chancellor acts as the head of government, while the head of state is typically a separate position with largely ceremonial duties. Parliament’s confidence determines the government’s legitimacy, and the cabinet is usually collectively responsible to the legislature. Elections for the parliament play a central role in forming the government, often leading to coalition arrangements in multiparty systems. A vote of no confidence can remove the government.

Variants of the concept include parliamentary republics and parliamentary monarchies. German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are commonly described as implementing parliamentary systems, though each has its own constitutional specifics. The parliamentary model stands in contrast to presidential systems, where the executive is elected separately and may enjoy a more distinct separation of powers. In practice, parliamentary systems emphasize the interdependence of the legislature and executive and rely on ongoing parliamentary support for governance.

Besides describing national governments, parlementarisch also applies to procedures, debates, and committees within parliaments, where legislative activity is organized and conducted according to parliamentary rules and norms.