Westminster system

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The Westminster system is a form of representative government that originated in the United Kingdom. Its distinguishing characteristics are:

  • the collective and individual responsibility of the executive to an elected legislature, from which they are drawn;
  • a ceremonial head of state whose functions are distinct from those of the head of government;
  • a judiciary that is independent of the executive and the legislature].

It is so named because the premises of the United Kingdom Parliament are in London's Palace of Westminster.