1. Parliament vs. President
SS6CG1, SS6CG4, SS6CG6
The student will compare and contrast various forms of government.
(c) Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments:
parliamentary and presidential.

2. Parliament
vs.
President
Which is better?

3. There are two predominant forms of democratic governments:
Parliamentary
Presidential

4. The main difference between the Parliamentary and Presidential systems is the relationship between the executive (carries out the laws) and the legislative (makes the laws) branches of government.

5. Parliamentary * The legislature (Parliament) controls the power.
* The majority party in the legislature forms a
government headed by a prime minister, who is
chosen by the legislature.
* The prime minister and his cabinet are members of
the legislature, he or she answers to the legislature
(fusion of powers).
fusion of powers = executive and legislative branches are mixed, share power

6. Parliamentary continued…
* The government will stay in office for a specified
period unless the prime minister loses support of the
majority in the legislature on an important vote, if this
happens the prime minister must resign and elections
are held immediately.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
David Cameron

7. Parliamentary continued…
Voters
elect
Parliament (Legislative)
appoint
Chosen by Majority Party
Judicial
Prime Minister

8. separation of powers = division of the branches of government
Presidential
* The executive and legislative branches are separate bodies elected independently by the citizens (separation of powers).
separation of powers = division of the branches of government
* There are checks and balances where each branch can overrule the other.
Checks and balances = limits each branch’s power, keeps one branch from having too much power

9. Presidential continued…
* The president answers to the voters, not to the legislature.
* The people elect the president, and elections are held at set intervals.
President of the United States of America
Barack Obama

10. Separation of powers division of the branches of government
Legislative Branch = establishes laws
(U.S. Congress)
Executive Branch = carries out, or enforces laws
(U.S. President)
Judicial Branch = makes decisions about disputes
(U.S. Supreme Court)

11. Presidential continued…
Voters
elect
elect
Legislative
Executive
approve
nominate
Judicial

12. Test on Monday