A parliamentary vote is a decision by members of parliament (MPs) about something they have considered, and could include a new law, a motion or amendment, a budget or other issue. In this type of system, citizens elect MPs who represent them in the House of Commons at Westminster. These MPs debate and consider issues that matter to them including those that directly affect Cheltenham.
In a parliamentary system, the executive functions are carried out by ministers within a Cabinet which is selected by the Prime Minister (in countries with a constitutional monarchy or democratic constitutional republic) or the leader of the majority party in the parliament (in those with a parliamentary democracy). The legislative function is carried out through a unicameral or bicameral parliament that is accountable to its constituents. The judicial function is separate from the executive and legislative functions.
Parliamentary systems are found throughout the world and include those based on the British model in the Commonwealth of Nations and countries which were influenced by this political tradition. Many parliamentary systems use a plurality voting system (first past the post) where voters select one candidate from a list. If no candidate gets 50 per cent of the votes, the lowest scoring candidates are eliminated and their second preference votes are redistributed to other remaining candidates until one gains a majority.
Some parliamentary systems allow the head of state (Monarch or Governor General in Commonwealth countries and President in democratic constitutional republics) to withhold assent to legislation passed by parliament (in Germany, for example). The UK and New Zealand both have provisions in their statute books that establish supermajority requirements for certain parliamentary decisions – such as the requirement that a 2/3rds majority be present to vote on an early dissolution of the legislature. However, these requirements can be bypassed by the enactment of other legislation that amends or ignores those statutes.