2. PARLIAMENT Its Role and Significance

3. The distinction between parliamentary and presidential systems of government

4. THE HEAD OF STATE

5. THE HEAD OF STATE IN A PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM IS A NOMINAL HEAD OF STATE WHOSE FUNCTIONS ARE CHIEFLY FORMAL AND CEREMONIAL IS A NOMINAL HEAD OF STATE WHOSE FUNCTIONS ARE CHIEFLY FORMAL AND CEREMONIAL LIMITED POLITICAL INFLUENCE LIMITED POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN A PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM IS BOTH THE NOMINAL AND THE POLITICAL HEAD OF STATE

6. EXAMPLES IN BRITAIN, THE QUEEN “reigns but does not rule” IN USA, THE PRESIDENT HAS POLITICAL POWER

7. PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM The The Chief Executive ( the PM or the Chancellor ) Chancellor ) together with the cabinet form part of the legislature They They are selected by the legislature and can be removed by the legislature if the legislature withdraws its support The The government is collectively accountable to the legislature for its actions and remains in office only while it retains the confidence of the legislature

8. In 1979, the Labour Government under Jim Callaghan lost a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons. The Government then requested – as required by convention – that Parliament be dissolved and a General Election be called. LABOUR LOST

9. Presidential system The political executive is not part of the legislature or selected by the legislature The political executive is not part of the legislature or selected by the legislature The President is directly elected by the electorate The President is directly elected by the electorate

10. In the USA the President and the Cabinet cannot not be members of Congress; that is either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

11. In a presidential system of government the president cannot be removed from office by the legislature except through the legal process of IMPEACHMENT

12. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF PARLIAMENT