(a) Define parliamentarianism. (b) Identify four... | WAEC SSCE - Government - 2015 (Essay)

Question 1 Report

(a) Define parliamentarianism.

(b) Identify four differences between parliamentary and presidential systems of government.

Answer

(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.

Read lesson note on Arms Of Government (JAMB)

Read lesson note on Basic Concepts In Government (JAMB)

Answer Details

(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.

Read lesson note on Arms Of Government (JAMB)

Read lesson note on Basic Concepts In Government (JAMB)

Arms Of Government

Basic Concepts In Government

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(a) Define parliamentarianism. (b) Identify four differences between parliamentary and presidential systems of government.

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