PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT

There are more Parliamentary systems in the world than Presidential democracies. As the name suggests, in the Parliamentary form of government, the parliament is supreme and the Executive, comprised of some members of the Parliament, is directly accountable to it. The examples of this system involves voters selecting parliamentary representatives. The party that wins the largest number of congressional seats then selects the head of government who is varyingly known as the Prime Minister, Chancellor, or Premier.

FEATURES OF PARLIAMENTARY FROM GOVERNMENT

A Parliamentary government is also known as the Cabinet form of government because the cabinet is the real Executive in it. It is also called ‘Responsible government ‘, Since the Cabinet always remains responsible to the Legislature for its activities. The salient features of Parliamentary form of government are as follow:

1. Close relationship between the Legislature and the Executive: In India, there is a close relationship between the Executive, i.e. the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head and the Legislature, i.e. the Parliament. The Council of Ministers is elected from amongst the members of the Parliament which means that the Executive emerges out of the Legislature.

2. Responsibility of the Executive to the Legislature: Since the Legislature gives birth to the Executive, the Legislature has the authority to hold the Executive responsible for all its actions. Thus the Council of Ministers is responsible to Lok Sabha. It is responsible to Rajya Sabha also. The responsibility is further conditioned through its collectivity i.e. the responsibility of every Minister is the responsibility of the entire Council of Ministers.

3. Dual Executive: The Parliamentary form of government provides for two Executives – the real Executive and the nominal or titular Executive. The nominal Executive is represented by the head of the State who may either be a hereditary or an elective one; legally, the head of the State possesses all powers and privileges which the Constitution and laws may confer upon him. But in practice, all powers are exercised by the real Executive represented by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

4. Leadership of the Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the acknowledged leader of the parliamentary form of government. Generally, the leader of the majority party in the lower house of the Legislature is appointed as the prime Minister.

5. Individual Responsibility: Each Minister is individually responsible to the parliament for the administration of his own department. The Members of the Parliament can put questions to the Minister who is responsible for all acts of omission and commission concerning his own department.

6. Political homogeneity: It means that the members of the Cabinet belong to the same political party. Usually they are taken from the majority party in the Legislature. But there are instances when no single part secures the majority in the Legislature. In that case, the only alternative is the formation of a coalition government, consisting of more than one political party.

7. Secrecy of procedure: The secrecy of Cabinet proceedings is another pre-requisite of the Parliamentary form of government. The minister should not divulge in the public or anywhere else whatever is discussed in the Cabinet. Any violation of this is considered to be a serious violation of discipline and the Cabinet Minister may lose his seat.

MERITS OF PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT

1. Separation of powers: The independence of three organs of government from each other makes for efficiency in administration. Equally , the three organs are linked with each other by an elaborate system of checks and balances.

2. Stability: Presidential government is stable. The tenure of the President is fixed. He does not have to strain his nerves to remain in office. The President can formulate and easily implement long term policies. There is no danger of sudden fall of government. The administration becomes efficient and free from corruption.

3. Expert Government: The President can choose people with specialized knowledge as his Ministers/ Secretaries, without consideration of their party affiliations. Further, he is free to accept their advice or not. The ultimate power to take decisions rests with the President. Thus, quick decisions are made possible.

4. Less influence of party system: The evils of party system do not adversely affect the administration in presidential government. The President cannot be removed before the expiry of his tenure. Therefore, the parties do not waste their time in trying to dislodge the government.

DEMERITS OF PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT

1. Less responsible Executive: The President is not responsible to the Legislature. He cannot be removed by the Legislature. The mistakes of the Executive cannot be punished by the Legislature. Such independence of the President can make him authoritarian. The system also breeds inflexibility on the part of the Executive.

2. Deadlocks between Legislature and Executive: Since the President as well as the legislature both are directly elected by the people, both assert their authority. This causes deadlocks between Legislature and the President and often embarrassment to the President. An uncooperative Legislature can create serious difficulties for the President. Solutions cannot be found till the next general election. This leads to wastage of time and money. Efficiency also suffers.

3. Rigid government: Presidential government is rigid. It lacks flexibility. Election Schedules are rigidly observed.

4. Spoils system: The Presidential system gives the President very wide powers of patronage at his disposal, giving way to the ‘spoils system’ to take its roots. The President may offer government posts to his people- friends, kith and kin, vested interests and business associates.