Editing Westminster system (section)

=== Summary of the typical structure of the Westminster model ===

{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! rowspan=2 | Type 
| rowspan=2 | Bicameral (unicameral in some circumstances) || Elected or appointed upper house to approve and/or scrutinise laws.

* Senate, Legislative Council, House of Lords
|-
| Elected lower house to represent the people and (normally) initiate legislation.

* House of Commons, House of Representatives, Legislative Assembly
|- 
! rowspan=4 | Leadership
| Head of state || Monarch (sometimes represented by a [[vice-regal]] representative, such as a governor or governor-general) or ceremonial president.
|- 
| Head of government ||
Usually the leader of the largest party in the lower house (legislature if unicameral).  

* Prime minister in a sovereign state/country 
* Premier/chief minister in provinces, states, or territories.  
* Other titles include first minister, chief executive, president of the council of ministers.
|-
| rowspan=2 | Presiding officers of legislative chambers || Speaker (or president) of the upper house
|-
| Speaker of the lower house
|- 
! rowspan=4 | General
| Government ||
Formed by the largest party/coalition in the lower house (legislature if unicameral), and led by the  head of government.

* Executive ministers are chosen (normally) from members of the government party or coalition, by the head of government.  They may be from either house in bicameral systems.
* A Cabinet is formed from the most senior ministers, but may include some civil servants.  
* In parliaments without political parties, ministers are either chosen by the prime minister or elected by members at large.
* Government sits in and is responsible to the legislature, to which it reports and is accountable (in particular, to the lower house, if bicameral).
|- 
| Opposition || Led by the leader of the opposition. A shadow cabinet is formed out of the elected members of the largest party or coalition in the legislature not in government, chosen by the party leader (the leader of the opposition).
|- 
| Public service || Politically independent and available to the people of the state, that will work for various government organisations (health, housing, education, defence).
|- 
| Armed forces || Defensive organisation of the state/country.
|}