The article explores the historical and legal aspects of the legislative process origin in a number of European federal states. In particular the features of the formation and development of parliamentarism and the legislative process in Russia, Germany, Austria and Switzerland are analyzed. It is noted that the legislative process in a democratic state is impossible without the existence of a higher representative legislative body. The emergence and development of the actual legislative process is connected with the beginning of the formation and functioning of the elected parliaments. The article considers the causes and prerequisites for the emergence of the parliamentarism in the abovementioned states and the main historical milestones of its development; it is shown how under the influence of public and political changes the procedures of the legislative process were transformed alongside with the subjects involved and their rights and duties. It is concluded that serious internal and external shocks forced to carry out radical changes in the state and political structures of these states, which affected the evolution of the legislative process. It is summarized that the majority of the currently existing institutions of the legislative process originated in the past and were conditioned by the historical development of each particular country.