Two Democratic Governments

Democratic Governments There are two major forms of democratic governments: Parliamentary Presidential The citizens elect the leaders in democratic government.

Parliamentary Democracy There are close ties between the executive and legislative branches. Head of State is pretty much symbolic; this position holds very little power Executive power is vested in the Parliament The Prime Minister (chief executive) leads the cabinet and is the head of the government.

United Kingdom Parliamentary Democracy Voters elect members to Parliament Parliament has 2 Houses: House of Commons: The Political Party with the most votes in the House of Commons chooses the Prime Minister, the government’s leader with no set term. House of Lords: Little power with most members being nobles having inherited their titles

Presidential Democracy Voters elect legislators Voters elect (indirectly) the president. Therefore, in the presidential system voters have a more direct say about those who serve in two branches of the government : Legislative Executive

Branches of Government

United States Representative Democracy – Voters choose their leaders Federal Republic – Power divided between the national and state governments The executive power is given to one person, the President. The President serves as leader of the nation.

Parliamentary System Presidential System Executive Executive Legislative Select Elect Elect Legislative Elect Citizens Citizens