1. REGIME TYPE
Presidentialism & Parliamentarism

2. Political Systems & Economic Models
Democratic regimes
Rely on formal constitutions that protect citizens’ rights and call for free elections
Authoritarian regimes
Concentrate power in the hands of one ruler or a ruling few
Rely on ideology, religion, or personal charisma as a source of moral authority
Market economies
Command economies
Welfare-state systems
Constitutional democracies

3. Welfare-state Systems
The state plays a major role in redistributing wealth
Some key parts of the economy (railroads, airlines, and public utilities) are nationalized
The government uses fiscal & monetary policies to regulate the economy
High tax revenues are used to support social programs
Education & health care are free or heavily subsidized
Job security

4. Presidentialism & Parliamentarism
What is the difference between presidential and parliamentary systems?
What is the confidence relationship?
How are governments formed in parliamentary systems?
What is premier-presidentialism?
What are the positive and negative aspects of presidentialism? Parliamentarism? Premier-Presidentialism?

5. Constitutions What is the confidence relationship?
Basic rules concerning decision making, rights, and the distribution of authority within a political system.
May or may not be written.
May or may not be a single document.
Written or codified constitutions important for systems based on the rule of law.
Democratic constitutions vary across three dimensions
Separation of powers
Geographic distribution of authority (unitary vs. federal)
Limitations on government authority

6. Fused vs. Separated Powers
A long history in political theory
Rooted in part in political revolutions.
Associated with preventing the ability of unchecked executive or legislature rule.
Classic theories predicated on the US (presidential) and the UK (parliamentary) models.
Models posit very different relationships between the executive and the legislature.

7. Presidentialism
Executive and legislative branches are elected separately (separate origin).
Cabinet members do not sit in the legislative branch.
Both branches are elected for a fixed term.
Neither branch can remove the other except in extraordinary circumstances (separate survival).
President as head of state and head of government.

8. Parliamentarism Only the legislature is directly elected.
Prime Minister and the Cabinet constitute the executive (collective executive).
Prime Minister and the Cabinet come from the legislature (fused power-shared origin).
Prime Minister as head of government.
Terms for the executive and the legislature are not fixed.
Confidence relationship exists between the executive and legislative branches (shared survival).

9. Confidence Relationship
Concept of responsible government defines parliamentary systems.
PM and his or her government must have the confidence of the chamber (majority support).
Legislature possesses authority to express no confidence in the executive.
Executive (PM) has powers of dissolution.

10. Parliamentarism as Party Government
Disciplined political parties are critical in parliamentary systems.
After electorate votes, who will control office is a key question.
Party systems are key to shaping this process.
Majoritarian vs. proportionate party systems.

11. Majoritarian vs. Proportionate Systems
Electoral system is key distinction.
Plurality /Single member districts majoritarian systems (NZ, Australlia, UK, Canada, France, India, US).
Proportionate/Consensual systems.
Most developed parliamentary systems are proportionate.
Study of linkages between elections and governments central to politics in democracies.
Coalitions shaped by institutions and systemic factors.

12. Critiques of Presidentialism
Track record outside of the US is debatable.
Fixed terms create inflexibility.
Suffers from immobilism due to divided government.
Winner take all logic hinders stability.
Direct elections creates opportunities for outsiders or demagogues.
Unclear who to credit or blame for policy.

13. Response of Presidentialism
Critiques of Parliamentarism
Direct elections provide more choice for voters (increases accountability and identifiability).
Legislators vote on the merits of policy rather than on confidence measures.
Parliamentary systems experience divided government in bicameral settings.
Majority governments in parliamentary systems are often unchecked (winner take all).
Flexibility of parliamentarism problematic when stable governments cannot form.

14. Comparison of Advantages
Parliamentarism vs. Presidentialism
Decisive leadership
Checking/balancing of power
Necessarily cumbersome legislative procedures
Stability, personalized leadership
Ease to pinpoint responsibility
Flexibility
Clear lines of accountability
Clear majority rule
Efficient, streamlined decision making.

15. Comparison of Disadvantages
Parliamentarism vs. Presidentialism
Instability
Numerous, fragmented party system
Fusion of powers
Dangerous for young democracies
Inflexibility
Effects on Party System
Zero-sum, majoritarian politics
Personalism, corruption
Dual legitimacy
Lack of role differentiation