How does Malta’s parliamentary system work?

Malta is a unitary multiparty republic with a parliamentary system fashioned on the British model. Its legislative branch consists of a unicameral House of Representatives, whose members are elected for five-year terms through proportional representation.12

Key features of the system include:

• Majority Guarantee: An amendment adopted in 1996 ensures that a party receiving more than 50 percent of the total votes cast in a general election is guaranteed a majority of seats in the parliament.2
• Executive Roles: The parliament appoints the president, who serves as the head of state and acts on the advice of the cabinet. The government is led by the prime minister, who heads the cabinet.2
• Constitutional Basis: Originally an independent monarchy, Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth following constitutional amendments in 1974.2