(a) Define parliamentarianism. (b) Identify four differences between parliamentary and presidential systems of government.
Question 1 Report
(a) Define parliamentarianism.
(b) Identify four differences between parliamentary and presidential systems of government.
Answer Details
(a) Definition of parliamentarianism. Parliamentarianism (the parliamentary or cabinet system of government) is a system in which the executive is drawn from and is directly responsible to the legislature (parliament). The head of government is the Prime Minister, who together with the cabinet remains a member of parliament and stays in office only so long as he retains the confidence of the majority in parliament. There is a fusion of the executive and legislative arms, and the offices of head of state and head of government are separate.
(b) Four differences between the parliamentary and presidential systems.
| Parliamentary system | Presidential system |
|---|---|
| The offices of head of state and head of government are held by two different persons (e.g. monarch and Prime Minister). | The offices of head of state and head of government are combined in one person, the President. |
| There is a fusion of the executive and the legislature; ministers are members of parliament. | There is separation of the executive from the legislature; a minister cannot be a member of the legislature. |
| The Prime Minister and cabinet are collectively responsible to parliament and can be removed by a vote of no confidence. | The President holds office for a fixed term and can be removed only through impeachment for wrongdoing. |
| The executive has no fixed tenure; government may fall or parliament be dissolved at any time. | The President enjoys a fixed and secure tenure irrespective of the legislature's disposition. |
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