Parliament

What is a Parliament?

A parliament is more than just a group of people sitting in a room; it’s the heart of democratic governance. It serves as a bridge between the government and the governed, ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard. But where did this concept originate? The term ‘parliament’ has its roots in Anglo-Norman, dating back to the 14th century, derived from Old French ‘parlement,’ meaning discussion or discourse.

The First Modern Parliament

Historically, parliaments have taken many forms. The first modern parliament was the Cortes of León in 1188, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of representative governance. But how did this concept spread? Parliaments can be traced back to tribal councils and ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and India.

The Witenagemot: An Early Form

In England, the Witenagemot was an advisory council that assisted the king on important matters. Dating back to around 600 AD, it laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the modern English parliament. The Norman Conquest in 1066 brought about a significant shift with the Curia Regis, which replaced the Witenagemot and was restricted to tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics.

Parliament’s Evolution

The Curia Regis evolved into the Parliament, High Court of Parliament, and Privy Council. Historians date the emergence of a powerful parliament no later than Edward I’s reign. The Model Parliament (1295) set the pattern for later Parliaments with the addition of Commons. Magna Carta (1215) established the king’s consent required for taxation and the council’s summoning process.

Representation and Power

English Parliaments included elected representatives from shires and towns during Henry III’s reign, and Simon de Montfort’s parliament in 1265 introduced representation without royal authorization. The Model Parliament adopted De Montfort’s ideas, and by Edward III’s reign, Parliament had grown closer to its modern form.

Parliament in Other Countries

The rise of Parliament limited the repercussions of dynastic complications and reduced the royal prerogatives of kings like Henry VIII. After the Civil War and Glorious Revolution, Parliament’s power increased in relation to the monarch. It provided the country with unprecedented stability.

Parliament in France

In France, parliamentary power was suppressed due to absolutism, and parliaments were eventually overshadowed by the Estates General. The term ‘parliament’ lives on in official names of national legislatures in North Germanic countries like Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Norway.

Parliament in Germany

In Germanic societies, a thing (þing or ting) was the governing assembly made up of free men. The place for the thing was often also the place for public religious rites and commerce. The thing met at regular intervals, legislated, elected chieftains and kings, and judged according to the law.

Parliament in Russia

The zemsky sobor was the first Russian parliament of the feudal Estates type, in the 16th and 17th centuries. It could be summoned by tsar, patriarch, or the Boyar Duma. The term ‘parliament’ comes from the Russian word ‘dumat,’ meaning ‘to think.’

Parliament in Spain

In Spain, the Cortes of León was held in 1188, considered to be the first parliament, which represented commoners for the first time. UNESCO recognized this event as the oldest documentary manifestation of the European parliamentary system.

Parliament in Portugal

The Portuguese Cortes were established in 1211 by Afonso II of Portugal, which included general laws protecting the king’s property, administering justice, and protecting subjects from abuses. The Cortes introduced monetagio, staple laws on the Douro River, and petitions that became ordinances and statutes.

Parliament in Poland

The Polish parliament, the Sejm, developed from an ancient wiec council, with power growing between 1146 and 1295. Irregular sejms were convened by Poland’s monarchs since the 14th century. The General Sejm evolved from earlier regional meetings in 1493 near Piotrków and marked the beginning of a bicameral legislative body.

Parliament in Ukraine

The viche was the highest legislature and judicial authority in the republic of Novgorod until 1478. A separate veche operated in Pskov until 1510. After the reforms of 1410, the veche was restructured on a model similar to Venice’s Commons chamber.

Parliament in Switzerland

The Federal Diet of Switzerland was one of the longest-lived representative bodies in history, continuing from the 13th century to 1848. Ukraine’s viche and Sich Rada institutions contributed to the culture of peaceful assemblies and ultimately led to the formation of the Central Council of Ukraine in 1917.

Modern Parliaments

The development of modern parliaments dates back to the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800). The Parliament of Great Britain was formed by the Acts of Union, uniting England and Scotland. The British Parliament is often referred to as the ‘Mother of Parliaments’ due to its influence on other parliamentary systems.

Structure and Powers

The House of Commons is composed of 650 directly elected members representing single-member constituencies. The leader of the winning party forms a government if they have more than half the seats or gain support from smaller parties. The House of Lords consists of long-serving, unelected members, including Lords Temporal and Spiritual.

Conclusion

The evolution of parliaments across different cultures and regions is a testament to human ingenuity in governance. From ancient councils to modern legislative bodies, the concept of parliament has transformed over centuries, adapting to new challenges while maintaining its core purpose: representing the people and shaping the future.