"This article is about the legislative institution. For other uses, see Parliament (disambiguation). The chamber of the House of Commons of the British Parliament in the City of Westminster, London. The Federal Assembly of Switzerland. Session Hall of Parliament of Finland. The Israeli Knesset chamber. In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative, elected body of government. Generally a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government (i.e., hearings, inquiries). Although some restrict the use of the word parliament to parliamentary systems, it is also commonly used to describe the legislature in presidential systems (i.e. the French parliament), even where it is not in the official name. Historically, parliaments included various kinds of deliberative, consultative, and judicial assemblies (i.e. the mediaeval parlements)..."