Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a democratic governance model where the executive branch is accountable to the legislature, facilitating a close relationship between the two. Unlike presidential systems, which maintain a strict separation of powers, parliamentary systems integrate the executive and legislative branches, often resulting in a more cohesive governance structure. In this system, the head of government, typically the prime minister, is chosen from the majority party in the legislature, while the head of state may be a constitutional monarch or a ceremonial president. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and India exemplify this system.
Historically, the modern parliamentary system has roots in the English political framework, evolving from assemblies that initially facilitated taxation discussions. The parliament itself can be unicameral or bicameral, and various electoral systems may determine how members are selected. One distinctive feature is that prime ministers must maintain the confidence of the legislature, with the potential for resignation following a vote of "no confidence."
While advocates argue that parliamentary systems can mitigate executive-legislative deadlocks and promote representation in diverse societies, critics highlight the advantages of presidential systems, such as direct electoral legitimacy and stable governance. Ultimately, the effectiveness of either system can depend significantly on the democratic context within a given country.
Parliamentary system
A Parliamentary system is a form of democratic governance in which the executive is constitutionally accountable to the legislature. Whereas a presidential system is characterized by a strict separation of power between the executive and legislative bodies, both the executive and legislature branches are closely related in a parliamentary system. It is also called a responsible government because the executive is held answerable to the legislature through parliamentary speeches and debates. Of the many countries that have the parliamentary system in place, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, India, Germany, and South Africa are prominent examples.
Brief History
Although modern democracy is traced to the ancient Greek city-states, the modern parliamentary system has its origin in the English political system. Derived from the French parlement, or Latin parliamentum, the word "parliament" was first used by King Henry III in 1236 to indicate an assembly for discussion. In its initial phase, the parliament provided a platform for representatives of rural landowners and townsmen to take part in the King’s Council (Curia Regis) and was primarily used to grant taxation to the king. After King Edward I formalized the parliament in 1295, the parliament began to meet at regular intervals whenever the king needed taxation.
Apart from granting taxation, the early parliament also provided a platform for individuals and communities to file petitions to the king and seek redress for disputes. In medieval England, the parliament was often used to pressure the crown to initiate reforms, at times even to legitimize regime change. By the fifteenth century, the parliament came to wield considerable legislative and administrative power. The slow but steady evolution of this early form of parliament thus came to form the basis of the current parliamentary system.
Overview
A parliamentary system, by its very definition, holds the parliament to be the supreme authority. It is a system in which the executive is held accountable to the legislature. It is also a system in which the head of the state is different from the head of the government. From the legislature of members directly elected by the people, the leader of the majority party forming the government (usually the prime minister) becomes the head of the government, while the formal head of the state is either a constitutional monarch or a ceremonial president elected by some other means. The prime minister then forms a cabinet from the elected members of their own party. The executive members in a parliamentary system are thus also members of the legislature. This is in contrast to the presidential system, where the president is directly elected by the people, and the executive is separate from the legislature. In a parliamentary system, the electorate votes for a government instead of for the prime minister. When no party is able to form a government by its own strength, a coalition is formed with other parties elected to the parliament to form a government.
A parliamentary system may be arranged according to diverse forms. They could consist of a single house (unicameral), two houses (bicameral), or even three chambers (tricameral). The electoral system by which members of parliament are elected might also vary according to whether they adhere to majority systems, proportional representation, modified proportional, or mixed systems. The number of representatives elected to each house further varies from country to country.
The members belonging to the lower house are typically elected directly by the people. Members of the upper house might be directly elected by the people or by some other voting mechanism. The prime minister usually belongs to the lower house of the parliament and remains in office as long as they enjoy the confidence of the house. If a vote of "no confidence" is passed against the prime minister, they are bound to resign.
Depending on the degree of power and independence they enjoy, parliaments can be grouped into four types: 1) rubber-stamp legislatures that merely endorse decisions made elsewhere; 2) informed legislatures that provide platforms for articulations of differences through speeches and debate; 3) transformative legislatures that represent diverse interests and shape independent policies; and 4) emerging legislatures, found in developing countries, that are in the process of transitioning from one model to another.
Although several democracies follow the presidential system of governance, some scholars point to the advantages of the parliamentary system when compared with the former. Along this line, it is argued that the parliamentary system is better because it 1) can avoid executive-legislative stalemates, 2) is less prone to lead to authoritarianism, 3) is better suited for diverse and divided societies, and 4) is more representative and thereby more democratic. Proponents of the presidential system, on the other hand, contest these claims and point to the advantages of having such a system in place: speedy decisions in times of urgency, increased legitimacy of the president as the directly elected representative of the people, and a more stable form of government and unity of policymaking that is not afforded by the compulsions of coalition politics. Based on evidence, however, it is safe to presume that the efficiency of either the presidential or the parliamentary system depends far more on the kind of democracy that exists in a state than on the aforementioned systems in themselves.
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