History of parliamentarism

The first modern parliaments date back to the Middle Ages. In 1188, Alfonso IX, King of León (in current day Spain) convened the three states in the Cortes of León; UNESCO considers this the first example of modern parliamentarism in the history of Europe, with the presence of the common people through elected representatives.

An early example of parliamentary government developed in today's Netherlands and Belgium during the Dutch revolt (1581), when the sovereign, legislative and executive powers were taken over by the States General of the Netherlands from the then-monarch, King Philip II of Spain. The modern concept of parliamentary government was further developed in the Kingdom of England (1688).

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