Parliamentary and Presidential Systems

1. Definitions

• Parliamentary System:
• Head of Government: Prime Minister (PM), chosen from the legislature (Parliament).
• Head of State: A ceremonial president (e.g., in India, the President is a symbolic figure).
• Example: India, UK, Canada.
• Presidential System:
• Head of Government: President, elected directly by the people.
• Head of State: Same person (President) acts as both head of state and government.
• Example: USA, Brazil, France.

 

2. Key Characteristics

Feature	Parliamentary System	Presidential System
Executive Power	PM + Cabinet (from Parliament).	President (elected separately).
Election	PM is from the majority party in Parliament.	President elected directly by citizens.
Accountability	PM can be removed via "no-confidence motion."	President cannot be easily removed (e.g., impeachment is rare).
Legislature	Parliament and PM are from the same body.	Separate executive (President) and legislature (Congress).

 

3. Pros and Cons

Parliamentary System

Pros:

• Faster decision-making (PM and Parliament are aligned).
• Clear accountability (PM can be replaced if unpopular).
• Example: India’s PM (e.g., Narendra Modi) works closely with the Lok Sabha.

Cons:

• Instability if coalitions form (e.g., India’s UPA government in 2004–14).
• Risk of "dictatorship by majority" (minority voices ignored).

Presidential System

Pros:

• Clear separation of powers (prevents abuse).
• President is directly accountable to citizens.
• Example: US President Biden’s role vs. Congress.

Cons:

• Gridlock if President and legislature clash (e.g., US government shutdowns).
• Longer decision-making (e.g., US Congress debates).

 

4. Real-World Examples

Parliamentary System (India)

• How it works:
• The PM (e.g., Narendra Modi) is the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha.
• The President (e.g., Droupadi Murmu) signs bills but has limited power.
• Example: In 2014, the BJP won a majority, making it easy for Modi to govern.

Presidential System (USA)

• How it works:
• The President (e.g., Joe Biden) is elected separately from Congress.
• If the President’s party controls Congress, policies pass easily (e.g., Obama’s Affordable Care Act in 2010).
• If not, gridlock occurs (e.g., Trump vs. Democratic Congress in 2019).

 

5. Key Takeaways

• Parliamentary: Efficient but prone to instability in coalition governments.
• Presidential: Balances power but risks deadlock.
• India’s Choice: Parliamentary suits India’s diverse society (coalitions represent multiple groups).
• USA’s Choice: Presidential avoids "tyranny of the majority" but can stall progress.