Parliament vs.

PresidentSS6CG1, SS6CG4, SS6CG6The student will compare and contrast various forms of government.(c) Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential.

Parliament

vs.President

Which is better?

There are two predominant forms of democratic governments:

Parliamentary

Presidential

The main difference between the Parliamentary and Presidential systems is the relationship between the executive (carries out the laws) and the legislative (makes the laws) branches of government.

Parliamentary* The legislature (Parliament) controls the power.

* The majority party in the legislature forms a government headed by a prime minister, who is chosen by the legislature.

* The prime minister and his cabinet are members of the legislature, he or she answers to the legislature (fusion of powers). fusion of powers = executive and legislative branches are mixed, share

power

Parliamentary continued…

* The government will stay in office for a specified period unless the prime minister loses support of the majority in the legislature on an important vote, if this happens the prime minister must resign and elections are held immediately.

Prime Minister of the United KingdomDavid Cameron

Parliamentary continued…

Voters

Judicial

Parliament (Legislative)

Prime Minister

elect

Chosen by Majority Party

appoint

Presidential* The executive and legislative branches

are separate bodies elected independently by the citizens (separation of powers).

* There are checks and balances where each branch can overrule the other.

separation of powers = division of the branches of government

Checks and balances = limits each branch’s power, keeps one branch from having too much power

Presidential continued…

* The president answers to the voters, not to the legislature.

* The people elect the president, and elections are held at set intervals.

President of the United States of AmericaBarack Obama

Separation of powersdivision of the branches of government

Legislative Branch = establishes laws(U.S. Congress)

Executive Branch = carries out, or enforces laws

(U.S. President)

Judicial Branch = makes decisions about disputes

(U.S. Supreme Court)

Presidential continued…

Voters

Judicial

Legislative Executive

elect elect

nominateapprove

Test on Monday