List of Parliaments of Countries – Static GK & General Awareness for Competitive Exams with Memory Tricks

Introduction

Every sovereign country in the world has a supreme law-making body, generally called its Parliament or Legislature. While the function is the same everywhere — making laws, approving budgets, and overseeing the government — the names differ from country to country. In India the Parliament is called Sansad, comprising the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha; in the United States it is the Congress; in Japan it is the Diet; in Russia it is the Federal Assembly (State Duma); in Iran it is the Majlis; and in Israel it is the Knesset. The word "parliament" comes from the French word parler, meaning "to speak" or "to discuss."

Questions on parliaments of different countries appear regularly in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, IBPS PO, RRB NTPC, SBI Clerk, State PCS, and various Insurance and Defence exams. Questions typically ask which country has a particular parliament name (for example, "Which country's parliament is called the Knesset?"), which is the oldest or the largest parliament in the world, or whether a given legislature is unicameral or bicameral. This article brings together every important parliament name in a structured, exam-ready format. To explore more such Static GK topics, you can refer to the Static GK section on Jobsme.in.

Parliament names are also closely linked to current affairs themes such as elections in different countries, international summits, new laws passed by foreign legislatures, and India's bilateral relations with other nations — making this topic doubly important for aspirants preparing for the General Awareness and International Relations portions of competitive exams.

Core Concepts: Understanding Parliaments and Their Types

A parliament is the legislative organ of a government, responsible for framing and amending laws, approving the budget, and holding the executive accountable. Understanding the structure of a legislature helps students answer both factual and conceptual questions confidently.

Types of Legislatures

• Unicameral Legislature: A legislature with a single house or chamber. Examples include China (National People's Congress), Iran (Majlis), Israel (Knesset), Sweden (Riksdag), Denmark (Folketing), and New Zealand (House of Representatives).
• Bicameral Legislature: A legislature with two houses — an upper house and a lower house. Examples include India (Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha), the USA (Senate and House of Representatives), the UK (House of Lords and House of Commons), and Russia (Federation Council and State Duma).

Important General Facts

• The Althing of Iceland, founded in 930 AD, is the oldest surviving parliament in the world.
• The National People's Congress of China is the largest parliament in the world, with nearly 3,000 members.
• The UK Parliament, which meets at the Palace of Westminster, is often called the "Mother of Parliaments."
• Sweden's Riksdag became the world's first completely paperless parliament in 2014.
• The term "parliament" is Anglo-Norman in origin and dates back to the 14th century.

To strengthen your basics on legislatures and the Indian polity, you can also practise the Static GK Quiz on Jobsme.in.

Parliaments of Countries - Asia

The following table lists the parliament names of important Asian countries along with their structure and key exam-relevant details.

Parliaments of Countries - Europe

The following table covers the parliament names of major European countries, several of which are frequently asked in competitive exams.

Parliaments of Countries - Americas, Africa and Oceania

This table covers the parliament names of important countries from North America, South America, Africa, and Oceania.

Memory Tricks and Mnemonics

Trick 1: The "Majlis" Family — Muslim-Majority Nations

Several Islamic countries use the word Majlis (meaning "assembly" or "council") in their parliament names. Group them together:

• Iran → Majlis (Islamic Consultative Assembly).
• Pakistan → Majlis-e-Shura.
• Maldives → People's Majlis.
• Saudi Arabia → Majlis Ash-Shura.
• Uzbekistan → Oliy Majlis.

"Wherever you see Majlis, think of a council in a Muslim-majority nation."

Trick 2: The "Sans" Sisters — India, Bangladesh, Nepal

Three South Asian neighbours have parliament names rooted in the Sanskrit word Sansad / Sangsad / Sabha:

• India → Sansad (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha).
• Bangladesh → Jatiya Sangsad.
• Nepal → Sansad (Pratinidhi Sabha + Rastriya Sabha).

"South Asian neighbours share the Sansad / Sabha root."

Trick 3: One-Word Wonders of Asia — "D-M-K"

Three famous Asian parliaments have short, one-word names. Remember them as "DMK":

• D → Diet → Japan.
• M → Majlis → Iran.
• K → Knesset → Israel.

Trick 4: Scandinavian "-ting / -dag" Endings

Northern European (Scandinavian) parliaments share similar-sounding endings:

• Iceland → Althing (oldest).
• Norway → Storting.
• Denmark → Folketing.
• Sweden → Riksdag.

"Cold Nordic lands end their parliaments in -ting or -dag."

Trick 5: The "Congress" Club of the Americas

Most countries in North and South America call their legislature a Congress:

• USA → Congress.
• Brazil → National Congress.
• Argentina → National Congress.
• Chile → National Congress.
• Peru → Congress of the Republic.
• Mexico → Congress of the Union.

"Cross the Atlantic to the Americas and join the Congress club."

Trick 6: "Germany has BB" — Bundestag and Bundesrat

Germany's two houses both start with "Bund" (meaning "federal"):

• Bundestag → the elected lower house (the main parliament).
• Bundesrat → the upper house representing the states (Länder).

"Tag for the people's vote, Rat for the states."

Trick 7: Oldest vs Largest — "Iceland is Old, China is Big"

A classic contrast trick to avoid confusion:

• Oldest parliament → Althing of Iceland (930 AD).
• Largest parliament → National People's Congress of China (~3,000 members).

"Old Iceland, Big China."

Additional Notes

Frequently Confused Facts

• Diet vs Duma: Diet is Japan's parliament, while the State Duma is the lower house of Russia's Federal Assembly.
• Majlis (Iran) vs Majlis-e-Shura (Pakistan): Iran's parliament is simply the Majlis, while Pakistan's full Parliament is called Majlis-e-Shura (National Assembly + Senate).
• Knesset vs Cortes: The Knesset is Israel's parliament; the Cortes Generales is Spain's parliament.
• Bundestag vs Bundesrat: The Bundestag is the elected lower house of Germany; the Bundesrat represents the federal states.
• Sejm vs Seimas: The Sejm is the lower house of Poland; the Seimas is the parliament of Lithuania.
• Storting vs Riksdag vs Folketing: Storting is Norway, Riksdag is Sweden, and Folketing is Denmark.

Repeating PYQ Patterns

• Oldest parliament (Althing, Iceland) and largest parliament (NPC, China) are the single most repeated facts in SSC, RRB, and Banking exams.
• Diet (Japan), Knesset (Israel), Majlis (Iran), Duma (Russia), and Bundestag (Germany) are recurring "match the following" favourites in UPSC Prelims and State PCS.
• Congress (USA), Parliament (UK), and Sansad (India) are commonly asked in IBPS, SBI, and Insurance exams.
• Shora (Afghanistan), Jatiya Sangsad (Bangladesh), and Cortes (Spain) appear frequently as tricky one-word recall questions.

Quick Insight

Parliament names of countries gain extra relevance during global political events such as general elections in the USA, UK, or France, summit meetings hosted by foreign legislatures, and India's diplomatic engagements with countries like Israel, Japan, and Russia. Keeping track of these names alongside daily news helps aspirants connect Static GK with current affairs. You can stay updated through the Daily Current Affairs section and test yourself with the Daily Current Affairs Quiz on Jobsme.in.

One-Liners for Quick Revision

• India → Parliament (Sansad) → Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; bicameral.
• Afghanistan → Shora (Shora-e-Milli) → Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga.
• Bangladesh → Jatiya Sangsad → unicameral; means National Parliament.
• Pakistan → Majlis-e-Shura → National Assembly and Senate.
• China → National People's Congress → largest parliament in the world.
• Japan → Diet (Kokkai) → House of Representatives and House of Councillors.
• Iran → Majlis (Islamic Consultative Assembly) → unicameral.
• Iraq → Council of Representatives → unicameral.
• Israel → Knesset → unicameral; 120 members.
• Nepal → Federal Parliament → Pratinidhi Sabha and Rastriya Sabha.
• Bhutan → Parliament (Tshogdu) → National Assembly and National Council.
• Maldives → People's Majlis → unicameral.
• Sri Lanka → Parliament → unicameral.
• Myanmar → Pyidaungsu Hluttaw → Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw.
• Indonesia → People's Consultative Assembly → bicameral.
• Malaysia → Parliament → Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.
• Mongolia → State Great Khural → unicameral.
• South Korea → National Assembly (Gukhoe) → unicameral.
• North Korea → Supreme People's Assembly → unicameral.
• Saudi Arabia → Majlis Ash-Shura → appointed Consultative Assembly.
• Kuwait → National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma) → unicameral.
• Jordan → National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma) → House of Representatives and Senate.
• Turkey → Grand National Assembly → unicameral.
• Kazakhstan → Parliament → Mazhilis and Senate.
• Uzbekistan → Oliy Majlis → Legislative Chamber and Senate.
• Brunei → Legislative Council → unicameral; appointed by the Sultan.
• Cambodia → Parliament → National Assembly and Senate.
• Vietnam → National Assembly → unicameral.
• Taiwan → Legislative Yuan → unicameral.
• Bahrain → National Assembly → Council of Representatives and Consultative Council.
• Syria → People's Assembly (Majlis al-Sha'ab) → unicameral.
• United Kingdom → Parliament → House of Commons and House of Lords; "Mother of Parliaments."
• Russia → Federal Assembly → State Duma and Federation Council.
• Germany → Bundestag (lower) and Bundesrat (upper).
• France → Parliament → National Assembly and Senate.
• Spain → Cortes Generales → Congress of Deputies and Senate.
• Italy → Parliament → Chamber of Deputies and Senate.
• Iceland → Althing → oldest surviving parliament (930 AD).
• Sweden → Riksdag → world's first paperless parliament (2014).
• Norway → Storting → unicameral.
• Denmark → Folketing → unicameral.
• Finland → Eduskunta → unicameral.
• Poland → Parliament → Sejm and Senate.
• Netherlands → States General → Tweede Kamer and Eerste Kamer.
• Ireland → Oireachtas → Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.
• Switzerland → Federal Assembly → National Council and Council of States.
• Austria → Austrian Parliament → National Council and Federal Council.
• Bulgaria → National Assembly (Narodno Sabranie) → unicameral.
• Croatia → Sabor → unicameral.
• Lithuania → Seimas → unicameral.
• Latvia → Saeima → unicameral.
• Estonia → Riigikogu → unicameral.
• Greece → Hellenic Parliament → unicameral.
• Portugal → Assembly of the Republic → unicameral.
• United States → Congress → Senate and House of Representatives.
• Canada → Parliament → House of Commons and Senate.
• Mexico → Congress of the Union → Chamber of Deputies and Senate.
• Brazil → National Congress → Chamber of Deputies and Federal Senate.
• Argentina → National Congress → Chamber of Deputies and Senate.
• Chile → National Congress → Chamber of Deputies and Senate.
• Colombia → Congress → Chamber of Representatives and Senate.
• Peru → Congress of the Republic → unicameral.
• Bolivia → Plurinational Legislative Assembly → bicameral.
• Australia → Federal Parliament → House of Representatives and Senate.
• New Zealand → Parliament (House of Representatives) → unicameral.
• South Africa → Parliament → National Assembly and National Council of Provinces.
• Egypt → Parliament → House of Representatives and Senate.
• Nigeria → National Assembly → House of Representatives and Senate.
• Kenya → Parliament (Bunge) → National Assembly and Senate.
• Ethiopia → Parliament → House of Peoples' Representatives and House of Federation.
• Zimbabwe → Parliament → National Assembly and Senate.
• Botswana → Parliament (National Assembly) → unicameral.

For more Static GK topics like world capitals, currencies, and important organisations, explore the Static GK section on Jobsme.in. You can also test your preparation with the Static GK Quiz and check out the latest exam openings at Latest Government Job Notifications.