A parliamentary vote is the process of counting votes for members of parliament in the legislative body. The votes are counted in order of preference. If a candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the first preference votes, they are elected. If no one gets more than 50 per cent, the lowest two candidates are eliminated and their second preference votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates. This continues until one candidate receives more than the other candidates combined and is declared the winner.
Parliamentary systems exist in many countries, each with its own unique form and institutions that shape the country’s way of government. Many European nations use a parliamentary system, while others utilize a presidential system, such as in the United States.
The main advantage of a parliamentary system is that laws are passed by the legislative branch (the parliament), rather than by a separate executive. This ensures that decisions made by the majority are legitimate, and that those in the minority are not subject to unfair attacks on their legitimacy or ability to speak. The head of state, such as a monarch or governor general, has the de jure power to withhold royal assent to legislation passed by the parliament (known as a veto), although this is rarely used. The head of state can also exercise a constitutional check on the parliament’s legislative power by calling an early election, though this has only been done twice in history, in Australia and New Zealand.