Westminster system

The Westminster system is a parliamentary form of government in which the executive is drawn from the legislature and remains accountable to it, usually through confidence votes.

Responsible government: A system in which ministers answer to the legislature and must retain its confidence to govern. It is the governing principle that makes the executive accountable to parliament.
Parliament: A national legislature that debates and enacts laws, scrutinizes government, and represents the public. The executive's authority depends on its relationship with this legislature.
Parliament of England: The legislature that developed in England from medieval assemblies and later became part of the British Parliament. Its growth laid institutional foundations for parliamentary government.
Presidential system: A system in which a separately elected president heads the executive for a constitutionally defined term. Unlike Westminster governments, its executive does not depend on legislative confidence to remain in office.
United Kingdom: A sovereign state comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Its national government is the historical reference point for the Westminster system.
Parliamentary confidence: The support of a legislature required for a government to remain in office. A lost confidence vote can force resignation or an election.
Prime minister: The head of government in a parliamentary system, usually the leader able to command legislative confidence. The prime minister leads the government and typically directs cabinet.
Glorious Revolution: The 1688–1689 overthrow of James II and accession of William III and Mary II in England. The settlement strengthened Parliament's position against the Crown.
Semi-presidential system: A system combining a popularly elected president with a prime minister and cabinet accountable to parliament. It divides executive authority between offices rather than centering it on parliamentary leadership.
Canada: A federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy in North America. Its federal institutions adapt Westminster practices to divided national and provincial powers.

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