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Prime Minister or President: Are Some Ways Better Than Others?

The document compares and contrasts the presidential and parliamentary systems of government used in countries like the United States and United Kingdom. It outlines key differences such as how the executive branch is selected, checks on power, and the relationship between the executive and legislative branches. Overall, the presidential system has more separation of powers while the parliamentary system concentrates power but can act more efficiently.

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Alexa Joy C. Inguillo
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61 views10 pages

Prime Minister or President: Are Some Ways Better Than Others?

The document compares and contrasts the presidential and parliamentary systems of government used in countries like the United States and United Kingdom. It outlines key differences such as how the executive branch is selected, checks on power, and the relationship between the executive and legislative branches. Overall, the presidential system has more separation of powers while the parliamentary system concentrates power but can act more efficiently.

Uploaded by

Alexa Joy C. Inguillo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Prime Minister or President

Are some ways better than others?

Prime Minister David Cameron

President Barack Obama


Presidential vs. Parliamentary
Systems of Government
• Presidential
• President elected by the
citizens
• Removed through
impeachment or elections

• Parliamentary
• Prime Minister (PM) selected
by the majority party in
Parliament
United States and the United
Kingdom
USA UK
• Written Constitution • Unwritten Constitution
• Crown=mainly Head of State (and
• Prez= both Chief Manager head of the Church of England)
and Head of State • Crown=appoints the PM (by tradition,
the appointee must command support
• Prez=can check Congress in Parliament)
• Prez—signs bills into law • "the Sovereign has, under a
(can veto bills) constitutional monarchy ... three
rights—the right to be consulted, the
right to encourage, the right to warn.“
• Crown—powers can be overridden by
Parliament
• Crown—assents to bills (no “vetoes”
since 1707
Visual Comparison
Presidential vs. Parliamentary
• Presidential:
• Separation of Powers:
Executive & Legislative
• President and Cabinet are not
members of the legislature.

• Parliamentary:
• No separation between
legislative and executive
branches
• PM & Cabinet are MPs
(members of Parliament)
Presidential vs. Parliamentary
• Presidential:
• Pres. & Cabinet can only be removed by impeachment,
and new elections
• Nominees selected by primaries/caucuses
• Elections regularly scheduled
• Does not need support in Congress to stay in power
• Cannot be fired for incompetence
• President government doesn’t change with new
congressional elections

• Parliamentary:
• Govt. remains in office only if it retains support of
majority in Parliament.
• Can be removed by Vote of No Confidence
• Nominees selected by heads of party
• PM may call new Parliament elections at any time up to
5 years.
• Needs support in House of Commons to stay in power
• Can be “fired” for incompetence
• PM’’s government can change with new legislative
elecetions
Presidential vs. Parliamentary
• Presidential:
• President has only bargaining leverage over
Congressional votes.
• Members of Congress introduce bills.
• Bills change significantly in Congress.
• Both houses of Congress have significant power
• Parliamentary:
• PM has much leverage over MPs votes.
• PM/Cabinet introduce most bills.
• Bills are passed with few changes.
• 2nd house of Parliament may have little power.
Checks & Balances
• Presidential: • Parliamentary System:
• Intricate system of Checks • Fewer Checks & Balances
& Balances – No Confidence vote
– Judicial Review – House of Lords may delay
legislation for 1 year
– Presidential veto – Cabinet pressure on PM
– Congressional override – Question Hour
of veto – Tradition & Reasonableness
– Impeachment
– Senate confirmation of
treaties and Presidential
appointees
– Etc…..
Presidential System
• Advantages:
• No branch or individual too
powerful (due to separation of
powers)
• More democratic? more interests
represented; more compromise

• Disadvantages:
• Slow process
• Divided Government
• Piecemeal Legislation
• Hard to create change / fulfill
campaign promises
Parliamentary System
• Advantages:
• Efficient / Quick process
• Easy to create change / fulfill
campaign promises
• More accountability to public?
• Coherent laws and policy
• Disadvantages:
• too much concentration of power?
• Fewer interests represented
• Change too drastic when parties
switch?
• Legislative process more symbolic

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