A parliament is a legislative body of government. The word parliament is often used to describe parliamentary systems where the executive, usually a prime minister, is elected by parliamentarians rather than directly by citizens. The term is commonly used in countries that are current or former monarchies. A parliament has three functions: representing the people, making laws, and overseeing the executive branch of government via hearings and inquiries. In most parliamentary systems, a prime minister and the government they administer, may be removed through a vote of no confidence.
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