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In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. The term is similar to the idea of a senate, synod or congress and is commonly used in countries that are current or former monarchies. Some contexts restrict the use of the word parliament to parliamentary systems, although it is also used to describe the legislature in some presidential systems (e.g., the Parliament of Ghana), even where it is not in the official name.
Historically, parliaments included various kinds of deliberative, consultative, and judicial assemblies. What is considered to be the first modern parliament, was the Cortes of León, held in the Kingdom of León in 1188.[2][3][4] According to the UNESCO, the Decreta of Leon of 1188 is the oldest documentary manifestation of the European parliamentary system. In addition, UNESCO granted the 1188 Cortes of Alfonso IX the title of "Memory of the World" and the city of Leon has been recognized as the "Cradle of Parliamentarism".[5][6]
- ^ Rush, Michael (2005). Parliament Today. Manchester University Press. p. 141. ISBN 9780719057953.
- ^ Michael Burger: The Shaping of Western Civilization: From Antiquity To the Enlightenment. Page: 190
- ^ Susana Galera: Judicial Review: A Comparative Analysis Inside the European Legal System. Page: 21
- ^ Gaines Post: Studies in Medieval Legal Thought: Public Law And the State, 1100–1322 Page 62
- ^ "Ayuntamiento de León – León, cradle of parliamentarism". www.aytoleon.es. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Internet, Unidad Editorial. "La Unesco reconoce a León Como Cuna Mundial del parlamentarismo". Retrieved 22 February 2018.