Congress vs. Parliament

Main Difference

Different ways to govern a country exist and every country has the right to choose the type of system they deem suitable according to the situation and can help them to run their matters. All the systems have some pros and cons and the debate that one can be better than the other has been going on for a long time. Presidential form of government is one of the most famous ones and is being used by some countries over the world. The country which has adopted this system properly and has used it to the full potential is the United States. Like any other system, it allows the public representatives to play an important role in legislation. It also it a system where although the main power lies with the president, other bodies can keep a check. Parliament and congress are two terms most commonly used in political systems and are in a way different from each other. These differences will be explained in detail here. In simple words, people who are elected by voting from a particular area become the members of parliament which have different constituencies from which a representative comes in and plays its role towards the betterment of the area. Congress, on the other hand, is a little bit more complicated. People who become member parliament with the help of voting from the people of the local area but instead of becoming member parliaments they become the member of congress. This congress then selects a leader which takes the seat of president. To make it easy to understand. Parliament is the house of representative in the United Kingdom while congress is the house of representative in the United States. Both play a similar role and have the power to make new laws. They also are responsible for taking care of problems from the local area which they were selected. Another difference between the two is that a member of parliament does not have the ability to make decisions on their own and have less power but a congressman has more power and influence on the people who are working under him and can get things done in a quicker manner. There are many other differences too which will be explained at the end while a brief description of two types is given in the next two paragraphs.

Congress vs. Parliament — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Congress and Parliament

Congress vs. Parliament

A parliament is a group of people who are elected by the general public for solving their issues while a congress is a group of people selected by the people and approved by the president to run the day to day issues related to the people.

Congress vs. Parliament

A person who is elected to become a parliamentarian is known as a member of parliament while a person who becomes part of the congress is known as a congressman.

Congress vs. Parliament

A parliamentarian completes their whole term for which they are elected while a congressman has to go through midterm elections within the congress.

Congress vs. Parliament

A parliament is the house of representatives in the United Kingdom while congress is the house of representatives in the United States.

Congress vs. Parliament

The size of parliament is several times bigger than the size of the cabinet.

Congress vs. Parliament

A congressman has more power and influence as compared to a parliamentarian.

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Congress vs. Parliament

A parliamentarian cannot veto the government decisions while a congressman has the power to veto.

Congressnoun

(archaic) A coming together of two or more people; a meeting.

Parliamentnoun

A formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues.

Congressnoun

A formal gathering or assembly; a conference held to discuss or decide on a specific question.

Parliamentnoun

In many countries, the legislative branch of government, a deliberative assembly or set of assemblies whose elected or appointed members meet to debate the major political issues of the day, make, amend, and repeal laws, authorize the executive branch of government to spend money, and in some cases exercise judicial powers; a legislature.

Congressnoun

(often capitalized: Congress) A legislative body of a state, originally the bicameral legislature of the United States of America.

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Parliamentnoun

A particular assembly of the members of such a legislature, as convened for a specific purpose or period of time (commonly designated with an ordinal number – for example, first parliament or 12th parliament – or a descriptive adjective – for example, Long Parliament, Short Parliament and Rump Parliament).

Following the general election, Jane Doe took her oath of office as a member of the nation's fifth parliament.

Congressnoun

An association, especially one consisting of other associations or representatives of interest groups.

The National Congress of American Indians

Parliamentnoun

A gathering of birds, especially rooks or owls.

Congressnoun

Coitus; sexual intercourse.

Parliamentnoun

(historical) Parliament cake, a type of gingerbread.

Congressverb

(intransitive) To assemble together.

Parliamentnoun

a legislative assembly in certain countries (e.g., Great Britain)

Congressverb

To meet in a congress.

Parliamentnoun

a card game in which you play your sevens and other cards in sequence in the same suit as their sevens; you win if you are the first to use all your cards

Congressnoun

the legislature of the United States government

Congressnoun

a meeting of elected or appointed representatives

Congressnoun

a national legislative assembly

Congressnoun

the act of sexual procreation between a man and a woman; the man's penis is inserted into the woman's vagina and excited until orgasm and ejaculation occur

Comparison Chart

CongressParliament
This is a group of people who are highly ranked among the current officials who have been elected by the people.a group of people who are elected by the general public for solving their issues
Post
a person who becomes part of the congress is known as a congressman.A person who is elected to become a parliamentarian is known as a member of parliament
Election
has to go through midterm elections within the congress.completes their whole term for which they are elected
Location
congress is the house of representatives in the United States.A parliament is the house of representatives in the United Kingdom
Power
has more power and influenceHas less power but more influence

Definition of Congress

This is a group of people who are highly ranked among the current officials who have been elected by the people. The United States is the only country which has a proper congress system which consists of the house of representatives and congress and is responsible for making all the policies. People who are the part of congress are known as congressmen. They have to follow the laws but also have the power to make new laws in accordance with the guidelines which are being followed by the government. The congressmen also make sure that their local constituencies. Is it the soul body in the American presidential form of government where the president has the whole power but the only congress has the ability to overrule the decision of the president of the united states and make sure that no action which is against the law of the country. All the major decisions cannot be confirmed until the congress passes the bill, no law can be made until the consent of congress is involved. In simple words, congress is the alternative of parliament in the American form of government.

Definition of Parliament

The best way to explain a parliament is that when general elections take place, people from different areas stand and participate in general polling if people give them the right to lead they enter the parliament as parliamentarians where they have the job to look after the well-being of people from where they were selected. They also have the job of making such laws and legislations which are beneficial for the people. They do not have a big role on the international front but have the power to run all the local policies. It is from the parliament that cabinet can be created, and the prime minister is also selected by the voting of these people. Parliament is also known as the house of representatives in some countries based on the fact that they represent the people. It is also larger in number than the cabinet and the biggest entity which helps in running the country. They have to follow the laws but also have the power to make new laws in accordance with the guidelines which are being followed by the government. They are the power who keeps an eye on all the activities of the party ruling the country.

Conclusion

There are different forms of government and each one of them has its pros and cons. This article looks at the specification of the two main types Congress and Parliament and gives a clear understanding of them. Hopefully it will help people in getting a better understanding and clearing the confusions that may arise while researching about them.