Westminster system: Difference between revisions

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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;
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.

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-The '''[[Westminster]] system''' is a system of [[government]] that originated in the [[United Kingdom]]. It is a type of [[parliamentary democracy]] with elected representatives. Its major characteristics are:
+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 ministers to Parliament (hence the term ''responsible government''), from which they are drawn;
+* the collective and individual responsibility of the [[executive]] to an elected [[legislature]], from which they are drawn;
-* a ceremonial [[head of state]] (in the UK, Queen [[Elizabeth II|Elizabeth II]]), distinct from the effective head of government (the [[prime minister]]);
+* a ceremonial [[head of state]] whose functions are  distinct from  those of the  head of government;
-* a [[judiciary]] independent of the [[executive]] and [[legislature]].
+* a [[judiciary]] that is  independent of the executive and the legislature].
-The Westminster system is so named because the UK [[Houses of Parliament]] are situated in the borough of Westminster in [[London]].
+It is so named because the premises of the United Kingdom Parliament are in London's  Palace of Westminster.