Report by: Kenneth M. Report by: Kenneth M. NuallaNualla

Principles of Political Science Aruego and Aruego-Torres

Parliamentary Government defined Origin and growth of parliamentary General features of parliamentary The English Parliamentary Government Advantages and disadvantages of a

parliamentary system of government Condition for the Establishment of

Parliamentary government

Parliamentary government defined- “ministerial,” “responsible,” and “cabinet” it is system in which the real executive-

the cabinet or ministry- is immediately and legally responsible to the legislature or one branch of it for its legislative and administrative acts.

It is a mediate or politically responsible to the electorate

Parliamentary government is a product more of evolution than of invention.

It had its origin in the long contest for supremacy between the king of England and the representative of the upper classes of the people.

The parliamentary government of England is, thus, indigenous to English soil, a product of years of constant struggle on the part of the people through their representatives of the control of government

From England, the parliamentary or cabinet idea spread to Continental Europe then to the Western and then to the Far East

Parliamentary Government exists today also in Australia; Canada; France; Italy; and Japan.

The features of parliamentary government and its workings in the countries where it has been adopted have not been the same.

The Parliamentary government of the world present general characteristics. First, Is a union of the executive and the legislative departments,

with the ministry directing the performance of executive and legislative functions.

Second, the member of the ministry hold office because they have the support of the majority of legislature.

Third, the member belongs to the legislature, they are responsible to the legislature for their policies and are dependent upon it for their tenure of office. Remain in office as long as they have its confidence

Fourth, the chief executive is only a nominal head, exercising his powers through the members of the ministry who countersign all his acts

Features of the parliamentary government of England: 1. The legislative branch of the government▪ House or Lords (upper chamber).▪ House of Commons (lower chamber).

2. The executive branch of the government▪ Is composed of the king who is the nominal chief executive, holding his

office through inheritance .▪ The ministers, some of whom are cabinet members, working under the

direction of their head, the prime minister. 3. The ministers are political heads of administrative services▪ Corresponding to departments in the United States and in the

Philippines. 4. All are member at the same time of either house of parliament, either

at the time of their appointment or subsequent to it.

5 . The prime minister▪ Is appointed by the king from the victorious political party following

an election, or from opposition following withdrawal or confidence by the House in case the government in power chooses to resign in favor of the minority

▪ Other ministers, including the cabinet members, are appointed by the king upon the recommendation of the prime minister.

6. All of the ministers belong to the majority party, except in rare cases when there is no party that controls the majority, when they are the recruited from the parties forming coalition (union) government.

7. The ministers who are executive heads at the same time legislative leaders, directing the course of legislation, participating in the discussion, and joining in the vote

8. They remain in power for five years unless before the expiration of that time they lose confidence of the house of Commons.

Advantages Unity between the executive branch

and legislative branch of the government

Render possible a coordinated program of legislation and administration.

It brings a unity of authority that is means necessarily a unity responsibility.

The people are enabled to fix responsibility for all acts of misgovernment.

The different head department of government, they acquire a wealth of information that is very serviceable to intelligent legislation.

Disadvantages There is no bi-party

system; that is, where there is no single party that controls the majority of the chamber to which is made responsible.

No ministry can remain long enough to develop a continuity policy, foreign or domestic.

The system strengthens the position of the central government at the expense of the local government

It is suspected that the fusion of legislative and executive powers furnishes a fertile ground for the growth of despotism

▪ The existence of bi-party system▪ Political tradition of the people to look

upon the legislature for supremacy in governmental matters▪ A reasonably high degree of political

education of the body politic.