KLAUS VON BEYME is Professor at the Institute of Political Science, University of Heidelberg.

'This is a highly useful addition to the literature on parliaments...' - American Political Science Review '...one of the richest works on the topic of parliamentary democracy...an interesting, well-written and valuable book...' - International Politics

• List of Figures List of Tables Introduction Parliamentary Government: The Rise of a Concept Parliamentarisation of Representative Governments Organisational Basis of 'Parliamentary Sovereignty' Functions of Parliaments The Role of the Head of State in Relation to Parliament and Government The Government and Parliamentary Majority Conclusion Selection of New Comparative Literature Bibliography Index

KLAUS VON BEYME is Professor at the Institute of Political Science, University of Heidelberg.

'This is a highly useful addition to the literature on parliaments...' - American Political Science Review '...one of the richest works on the topic of parliamentary democracy...an interesting, well-written and valuable book...' - International Politics

• List of Figures List of Tables Introduction Parliamentary Government: The Rise of a Concept Parliamentarisation of Representative Governments Organisational Basis of 'Parliamentary Sovereignty' Functions of Parliaments The Role of the Head of State in Relation to Parliament and Government The Government and Parliamentary Majority Conclusion Selection of New Comparative Literature Bibliography Index

KLAUS VON BEYME is Professor at the Institute of Political Science, University of Heidelberg.

'This is a highly useful addition to the literature on parliaments...' - American Political Science Review '...one of the richest works on the topic of parliamentary democracy...an interesting, well-written and valuable book...' - International Politics

• List of Figures List of Tables Introduction Parliamentary Government: The Rise of a Concept Parliamentarisation of Representative Governments Organisational Basis of 'Parliamentary Sovereignty' Functions of Parliaments The Role of the Head of State in Relation to Parliament and Government The Government and Parliamentary Majority Conclusion Selection of New Comparative Literature Bibliography Index