A parliamentary democracy is a political system where the government derives its legitimacy from the legislature (parliament) and is accountable to it. In this system, the executive branch is drawn from the legislative branch, meaning that the head of government, often called the prime minister, is typically a member of parliament. This interconnection allows for a more cohesive legislative process, as the government can collaborate closely with the ruling party or coalition. Parliamentary democracies often feature multi-party systems, enabling diverse representation, and typically have mechanisms for regular voting and accountability to ensure government responsiveness.