Cabinet vs Parliament
The terms parliament and cabinet are crucial concepts in countries with a democratic system of governance. In most democracies, the cabinet represents the key group of ministers in a government, while parliament is the physical building where all elected representatives convene, voice their opinions on various issues, and pass legislation. Parliament is also a democratic institution representing the will of the nation through elected representatives. The cabinet, which contains the government’s ministers, falls under the jurisdiction of the sovereign and independent parliament. This article will explore the differences between the cabinet and parliament.
Parliament is a system in democracies that follow the Westminster model of democracy, like in the United Kingdom. It is a democratic institution considered to be a temple of democracy, where representatives chosen by the people based on adult suffrage gather to discuss matters of national importance and vote on passing legislation. A parliament typically contains a well where the speaker of the house sits, surrounded by both treasury and opposition benches.
Key Takeaways
- Parliaments consist of houses or chambers, usually with an upper and lower house to provide a system of checks and counterbalance.
- Parliament is a place where laws are made and matters of national importance are discussed by members, including both ruling party and opposition members.
- The cabinet is a group of important government ministers, including the prime minister, who decide on policy matters and coordinate government decisions.
In most democracies, there are two houses or chambers: an upper house and a lower house. This structure is intended to create a system of checks and counterbalance. The lower house comprises representatives elected directly by the people, while the upper house consists of experts in various fields elected indirectly. Upper house members are also called seniors, as they have the right to reject any bill passed by the lower house. Bills can originate in either house, though monetary bills are typically introduced only in lower houses.
Parliament is a place where laws are made and matters of national importance are debated by members. It is a legislature where members of both the ruling party and the opposition sit and debate bills and issues facing the nation.
The cabinet refers to the group consisting of the government’s important ministers and the prime minister. The cabinet is selected by the prime minister to decide on policy matters and coordinate government decisions. There are numerous cabinet meetings chaired by the prime minister, and cabinet discussions remain private and are not disclosed to the public. The prime minister has the prerogative to change the cabinet’s composition, known as a cabinet reshuffle. The cabinet has an administrative secretariat headed by a cabinet secretary.
To summarise, a parliament is both a physical place (where legislators sit and debate) and a democratic institution found in all countries following the Westminster model of democracy practiced in the United Kingdom. Parliament contains two houses or chambers, one of which is the upper and the other the lower house. The cabinet is a group of important government ministers who sit on treasury benches inside the parliament.
