Voting is how Parliament makes decisions on proposals – called motions – for action. The Speaker ‘puts the question’ for a vote after debate has finished, and mechanisms like closure and time allocation limit debate to ensure that decisions are made quickly.
Most votes are decided by a spoken vote, known as voting ‘on the voices’. This is where MPs indicate whether they agree or disagree with a proposal by shouting ‘aye’ or ‘no’. If one side’s shouts are clearly louder than the other, the Speaker declares which response has won the vote. However, if the shouts are evenly matched and it’s not clear which side has won, the Speaker will call for a ‘division’.
In a division, the doors to Parliament’s lobbies are locked and MPs will be given 10 minutes to make their way inside to vote. During this period, lights will flash on the clocks in the House of Commons and Senate to let MPs know that a division is being called. A system of bells will also ring across the parliamentary estate to alert MPs who may be in other buildings that they need to come to the chamber to vote.
MPs usually belong to a political party, and are known as members of that party’s parliamentary caucus. Each party selects candidates to stand at a general election to represent their constituencies. If a majority of voters chooses a particular candidate and party, then that person or party will form the Government of the Republic of Estonia. The Government is then led by the Prime Minister, who is normally the leader of the ruling coalition of parties in Riigikogu or (if there is no majority party) the President.