1. Retrieve your laptop AFTER class
Oct 1, 2014
World Cultures
Retrieve your laptop AFTER class
Discussion.
Today’s Class Objectives:
Compare the Presidential form of democracy with the Parliamentary form of democracy

2. Democratic Governments
Class Objective:
Compare the Democratic Presidential system of
government with the Parliamentary system of
government.
Forms of
Democratic Governments

3. Presidential System United States
What are the 3 “branches” in our government?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
- Make the laws.
- Carry out the laws make in Congress
- Interpret the laws-
“Do they follow the Constitution?”
Congress
: Senate
House of Reps
President, his cabinet, VP, FBI, CIA, etc.
Supreme Court

4. Parliamentary System of Government
Most of the Democratic forms of government
ARE NOT the same as ours!
Parliamentary System of Government
How is it similar to the Presidential system of democracy?
How is it different?

5. TASK: Access and read the information below which compares and
contrasts the “Parliamentary” and “Presidential” system of democracies.
2. While reading, contrast the two systems with regard to the following:
Branches of government
Elections
Terms in office
3. What are the advantages of each system?

6. who picks his “Cabinet”
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM
Head of the legislature
Majority Party
Prime Minister
VOTERS
Parliament
who picks his “Cabinet”
Minority Party
Who is the “Head of State”?
Chief Executive
Britain?
Other Parliamentary systems who do NOT have a monarch?
Monarch
No real power!
“Head of State” [different named titles]

7. House of Commons Tories Whigs “Big Wig”
Speaker of the
H of C
Tories
Whigs
Ancient tradition: Aisle between two parties is the width of two swordblades plus one foot. Why?
“Big Wig”
Official Bellower

8. House of Commons

9. (Head of Majority Party
Parliament Today
HOUSE OF LORDS
(Hereditary)
Prime Minister
(Head of Majority Party in
House of Commons)
No real power
HOUSE OF COMMONS
(Elected)
650 Districts / 1 Rep–Each
Does not have a system of
proportional representation
2 “Major” Party System
Conservative Party
Labour Party
Vote for New Members of House of Commons every 5 Years
UNLESS…..
Prime Minister calls for a “vote of confidence” ….does not get it… then he/she may call for a new election even if the 5 years is not through!

10. “Parliament” selects the prime minister
WHO SELECTS THE PRIME MINISTER [PM]?
“Parliament” selects the prime minister
Prime Minister is not elected by popular vote
The PM is usually the head of majority party
coalition
Cabinet is responsibility to Parliament
Major Legislation
“Votes of confidence”

11. Parliamentary and Presidential Systems
What are the Key Features of Presidential Government?
Popular election of president (electoral vote)
Fixed term
No Overlap between executive and legislative duties
What are they Key figures of Parliamentary Government?
Government comes from parliament
No fixed term
Cabinet government

12. Comparing Systems 3 2 Presidentialism Parliamentarian Fixed Term
Branches of
Government
Rigidity/
Flexibility
Political Style
Identifiably &
Accountability 3 2
Fixed Term
Flexible Terms
PM’s power depends on party
President has independent power
Voter’s choices are clear
Choices are less clear to voter

13. Comparing Systems Presidential Parliamentary Branches of Government
Rigidity/
Flexibility
Political Style
Identifiably &
Accountability

14. What are the advantages of each system?
If you had to recommend either a “presidential” or a “parliamentary system for a new democracy, which would you select and why?

15. France What about EU nations who do not have
hereditary kings or queens?
France
has a “President” elected the same way that UK
elects their Prime Minister
He/she then appoints the nation’s “Prime Minister”
whose job is directed by the elected President
considered the “Head of State”, but not the
“Head of Government”

16. Other European/world democracies who
follow the Parliamentary System
may use a different term other than
“Parliament for their legislature
Examples –
France: General Assembly
Israel: Knesset
Japan: Diet
Spain: Cortes Generales

17. Socialism - is an “economic system”
Can a Democratic Government
also be “Socialist”?
YES!
Socialism is NOT a form of government
Socialism - is an “economic system”

18. Democratic Socialism –
When the government regulates some
aspects of the economy in some
fashion.
But it is “democratic” b/c the nation’s
people “vote” for the party who
advocate this regulation.
Health Care for all
Free education K-college
Gov’t control of all major industries

19. Socialist but IS NOT democratically
If Socialism - is an “economic system”….
What name is given to a GOV’T that is
Socialist but IS NOT democratically
elected?
COMMUNIST?
Authoritarian Government
Command
Economy
Dictatorship
Military junta
Oligarchy

20. Recap: Forms of Governmental Systems: Democratic Presidential System
Parliamentary System
Authoritarian
Dictatorship
Military Junta
Forms of Economic Systems:
Free market
Mixed market
Command
Pure Capitalism
Some Capitalism and some Socialism
Where would we put
“SOCIALISM”?

21. How well do you understand the forms of democratic governments?
TASK:
Working in pairs, you will create a “Tavani-like quiz” with 6 questions:
Three [3] multiple chose questions
Three [3] completion questions
One short answer per topic
Must be typed on Word
Must have correct answers to each question
Each student must upload their completed document
ON THE BOTTOM of their subpage on “Comparing
Democratic Systems of Government”