noun
parliamentary system; representative government
A political system in which citizens elect representatives to a parliament or assembly to make decisions on their behalf.
日本は代議制度を採用している。
Japan adopts a parliamentary system.
代議制度の下では、国民は選挙で代表を選ぶ。
Under a representative system, citizens choose their representatives through elections.
Compound of 代議 (representation, deliberation on behalf of others) and 制度 (system, institution). The term was coined in the Meiji period as Japan adopted Western political models.