Governance 3 (Presidential vs Parliamentary)

SS6CG4: The student will compare and contrast various forms of government. The student will tell how different types of governments are the same and how they are different.

C. The student will describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary, and presidential

How are parliamentary democracy and presidential democracy different? E.Q.: How are parliamentary democracy and presidential democracy different? How are they the same?

In both a presidential and parliamentary democracy, the power of the central government is balanced by dividing it between separate branches

In a presidential democracy the legislative branch and the executive branch are independent of each other This means that they are elected separately from each other

Citizens vote to elect their representatives in the legislature

Citizens vote again to elect their executive leader (president)

In a parliamentary democracy the legislative and executive branches are NOT independent of each other Citizens vote to elect their representatives in the legislature (parliament) But, citizens do NOT vote to elect their executive leader

Citizens vote to elect their representatives in the legislature (parliament) but, citizens do NOT vote again to elect their executive leader

So, in presidential democracy the executive and legislative branches are elected separately by the citizens. In parliamentary democracy, the citizens only vote once to elect the legislature… So, how does parliamentary democracy get its executive leader if the citizens don’t elect one?

Just like in a presidential democracy, there are different, opposing, political parties in a parliamentary democracy (like republicans & democrats here in the United States) And, just like in a presidential democracy, representatives in a parliamentary democracy come from different political parties

Once elections are completed for the Parliament, the political party with the most members in parliament are called ‘the majority party’ The leader of this ‘majority party’ then becomes head of the executive branch, the Prime Minister The Prime Minister is their head of the executive branch

Another Way to Put it… Presidential Democracy: A system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature The president is elected by citizens and so he is responsible to those citizens (not to the legislative branch : they are separate)

In the United States, the president serves as both the head of state and chief executive. This means that he is both the symbol of the nation in interacting with other nations and he is also responsible for the day to day running of the government and military

Parliamentary Democracy: A system of government having the real executive power vested in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature who are individually and collectively responsible to the legislature. Prime Minister is elected by the legislature

While in a presidential democracy the president fulfills both the roles of head of state and chief executive, in a parliamentary democracy these roles are given to two different people

Monarch: Head of State The head of state in a parliamentary democracy is usually a monarch of some sort The head of state is the chief representative of the country to other countries. This person has ceremonial duties and serves as a symbol for the country Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is an example: she serves as a symbol for the United Kingdom and is officially “Queen of the United Kingdom”

Prime Minister: Chief Executive The chief executive in a parliamentary democracy is the Prime Minister The Prime Minister is responsible for the day to day running of the government

+ + = = = Head of State President Chief Executive Prime Minister Monarch Head of State

Parliamentary Presidential Prime Minister Leader/ heads parliament, the law making body Legislature: law making body (only) Citizens elect lawmakers President is elected by citizens Parliament selects the Prime Minister President: Leader (only) Prime Minister can dissolve the parliament Leader heads the military and runs the government Legislature and President serve a fixed amount of time Parliament members can vote to elect a new Prime Minister President does NOT make laws President is head of state and chief executive May have a head of state with little power: king or queen

Assess 11. In what way are the Prime Minister and the President alike? A. The lawmaking body appoints them B. They make the laws for their countries C. They can dissolve the lawmaking body D. They are in charge of the military and in control of the government

Assess 12. Which statement about the executive is true? A. The President cannot make laws B. The Prime Minister is the head of state C. The President can dissolve the legislature D. The members of the legislature choose the president

Assess 13. In which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government? A. Presidential Democracy B. Communist C. Parliamentary Democracy D. Dictatorship

Assess 14. The leader of the parliament in countries such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom is called the: A. Speaker B. President C. Chairman D. Prime Minister

Assess 15. Which best describes how a parliamentary democracy differs from a presidential democracy? A. The legislature consists of two houses B. There are usually two major political parties C. There are state as well as national governments D. The head of the government is a member of the legislature