Parliamentary and Parliamentary and Presidential Systems of Presidential Systems of

Government Government

Parliamentary Parliamentary GovernmentGovernment

Parliamentary GovernmentsParliamentary Governments

Democratic systems where voters elect Democratic systems where voters elect members to the Parliament (legislature).members to the Parliament (legislature).

The Parliament has two Houses:The Parliament has two Houses: 1. House of Commons, whose members 1. House of Commons, whose members

are chosen by the Political Party with the are chosen by the Political Party with the most votes in the House of Commons.most votes in the House of Commons.

2. The House of Lords, little power with 2. The House of Lords, little power with most members being nobles having most members being nobles having inherited their titles.inherited their titles.

Parliamentary Government Cont.Parliamentary Government Cont.

The Parliament selects a Prime Minister, The Parliament selects a Prime Minister, who is the head of the Parliament which is who is the head of the Parliament which is the lawmaking body.the lawmaking body.

Some parliamentary systems may have a Some parliamentary systems may have a head of state with little power, usually a head of state with little power, usually a king or queen. king or queen.

Example: United KingdomExample: United Kingdom

Presidential GovernmentPresidential Government

Presidential GovernmentPresidential Government

Democratic type of government where the head Democratic type of government where the head of state is called the President.of state is called the President.

The president is the symbol of the country and The president is the symbol of the country and runs the day-today operation of the country.runs the day-today operation of the country.

Voters elect (indirectly) the PresidentVoters elect (indirectly) the President Voters elect legislatorsVoters elect legislators President does not make the laws; this is done President does not make the laws; this is done

by the legislature.by the legislature. Example: United StatesExample: United States

Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy

Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy

Kings, queens, or emperors share power Kings, queens, or emperors share power with elected legislatures.with elected legislatures.

Generally the kings are nothing more than Generally the kings are nothing more than figureheadsfigureheads

The government is a democratic one The government is a democratic one because the people vote for the legislature because the people vote for the legislature and it limits the power of the monarch.and it limits the power of the monarch.

Examples of this system are Great Britain, Examples of this system are Great Britain, Canada, and AustraliaCanada, and Australia

Comparison: Parliamentary Comparison: Parliamentary and Presidential systemand Presidential system

ComparisonComparison Parliamentary systemParliamentary system The government and members of The government and members of

parliament are elected in a single parliament are elected in a single election.election.

The Prime Minister is also a member The Prime Minister is also a member of parliament.of parliament.

Parliament selects the Prime Minister.Parliament selects the Prime Minister. Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament Members of Parliament can vote to Members of Parliament can vote to

elect a new Prime Minister.elect a new Prime Minister. The job of executive is split – Head of The job of executive is split – Head of

state has little power (may be a king, state has little power (may be a king, queen or president)queen or president)

Political parties enjoy strong position; Political parties enjoy strong position; opposition forms the most important opposition forms the most important controlcontrol

Presidential SystemPresidential System President and members of Congress President and members of Congress

are elected during separate elections.are elected during separate elections. The president is not a member of The president is not a member of

Congress.Congress. President does not make laws. President does not make laws. The President is head of State and The President is head of State and

chief executive.chief executive. Congress cannot force the president Congress cannot force the president

out of office without cause. If the out of office without cause. If the president commits a criminal offence president commits a criminal offence then Congress can force the president then Congress can force the president out of office following a vote on out of office following a vote on impeachment and two-thirds-majority impeachment and two-thirds-majority vote. vote.

Government and president are Government and president are independent of each other (no vote of independent of each other (no vote of confidence and no right of dissolution)confidence and no right of dissolution)

Political parties have less of a role (no Political parties have less of a role (no party discipline)party discipline)

Political Systems

Define each term below:Define each term below:

1.Unitary: central/national government has ALL power to make 1.Unitary: central/national government has ALL power to make laws and decisions for the people. (U.K., France, Denmark)laws and decisions for the people. (U.K., France, Denmark)

2. Confederation: local/state governments make own laws for 2. Confederation: local/state governments make own laws for themselves. Forms a weak central government.themselves. Forms a weak central government.

3. Federal: power to make laws is SPLIT between central 3. Federal: power to make laws is SPLIT between central government and state/local governments (United States) government and state/local governments (United States)

How does each of the following governmental systems distribute How does each of the following governmental systems distribute or share power?or share power?Give a written explanation or draw a picture.Give a written explanation or draw a picture.

UnitaryUnitary ConfederationConfederation FederalFederalcentral makes ALL central makes ALL lawslaws

central has ALL powercentral has ALL power

NO power for NO power for local/state gov’tlocal/state gov’t

-MOST power, laws -MOST power, laws made by local/state made by local/state gov’tgov’t

-Little power given to -Little power given to weak central gov’t weak central gov’t

POWER SPLITPOWER SPLIT

Central LocalCentral Local

Constitution defines Constitution defines the laws each level of the laws each level of gov’t can makegov’t can make

Examples:Examples:

Central laws: voting Central laws: voting age, national securityage, national security

Local: education, court Local: education, court systems, etc systems, etc

Define each term:Define each term:

1. Autocratic: country governed by single person with 1. Autocratic: country governed by single person with UNLIMITED powerUNLIMITED power

2. Oligarchy: gov’t in which a few powerful/rich individuals rule2. Oligarchy: gov’t in which a few powerful/rich individuals rule

3. Democratic: gov’t receives power from the people.3. Democratic: gov’t receives power from the people. “ “for the people and by the people”for the people and by the people”