Westminster system

From Citizendium
Revision as of 15:45, 10 February 2024 by John Leach (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "head of state" to "Head of State")
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is a stub and thus not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

The Westminster system is a form of representative government that originated in the United Kingdom. Its distinguishing characteristics are:

  • the collective and individual responsibility of the executive to an elected legislature, from which they are drawn;[1]
  • a ceremonial Head of State whose functions are distinct from those of the head of government;
  • a judiciary that is independent of the executive and the legislature.

It is so named because the premises of the United Kingdom Parliament are in London's Palace of Westminster.

  1. WT Stanbury: "Accountability to Citizens in the Westminster Model of Government", Fraser Institute 2003