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Democracy is the backbone of governance and administration in any country. Democracies are of two types: representative and direct. Today most countries in the world are representative democracies. The presidential form of government has a single executive system where the president is the head of the executive and is independent of the legislature. The parliamentary form of government is a form of democracy where the executive gains political legitimacy by being responsible to the legislative. In this article, we will discuss the difference between parliamentary and presidential forms of government.
Presidential form of government
There is only one executive in this form of government, which is the president. Hence it is also called the single executive system. The president is the head/chief executive of the state as well as the government and is chosen by the people directly.
The legislature is completely independent of the executive, in the presidential form of government. The three organs of the government: the legislative, executive and the judiciary are all independent of each other. The legislature is responsible for formulating laws, the executive, headed by the president enforces those laws and the judiciary carries out judicial tasks.
Some of the countries with a presidential form of government are the United States, Brazil, South Korea, Turkey, the Philippines, Indonesia etc
Parliamentary form of government
In this form of government there are two executives. The president is the nominal executive and the head of the state. The role of the president is primarily ceremonial. The prime minister is the real executive and the head of the government, who along with the cabinet has the maximum powers. So, it is known as, the “cabinet form of government”.
Since the parliament is directly responsible to the people, it is also called the “responsible government.” The executive is responsible to the legislature. Hence, there is no clear separation of powers as in the presidential form of government.
Some of the countries which have a parliamentary system of government are Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, India, Portugal etc.
In the constitution of India, articles 74 and 75 provisions for a parliamentary form of government at the union level, and articles 163 and 164 deal with provisions for the same at the state level.
Parliamentary system vs presidential system chart
Context | Parliamentary form of government | Presidential form of government |
|---|---|---|
Separation of powers | The form of government in which the executive is responsible to the legislature, thus being dependent on it. | The form of government in which all organs of the government (legislature, executive and judiciary) are independent of each other. |
Election | The people elect representatives of the legislature. | The president is directly elected by the people. |
Executive, | It is a dual executive. The head of the state and government are different (president and prime minister) | The head of the state and government is the same, hence it is a single executive. |
Ministers | are members of the parliament and are of the ruling party. | Industry experts, outside of the legislature, can also be chosen as ministers. |
Dissolution of the lower house | The President can dissolve the lower house. | The president does not have the power to dissolve the lower house. |
The tenure of the head | Tenure of Prime Minister is not fixed since it is dependent on the majority support in parliament. | The tenure of the president is fixed. |
Autocracy | It is less autocratic. | There are more chances of autocracy. |
Advantages and disadvantages of parliamentary form of government.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
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Advantages and disadvantages of presidential form of government
Advantages | Disadvantage |
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Conclusion:
Although the parliamentary and presidential forms of government are both democracies, there are some fundamental differences between them. Based on the country’s unique needs and socio-political structure, the form of government is chosen. Today, almost all the countries in the world have transitioned from monarchy to democracy, and have either a presidential or a parliamentary form of government.
