MERITS OF PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT

It is the most popular form of liberal democracy. It has several merits.

1. Harmony between the Legislature and the Executive 

The common party affiliation of the Executive and majority in the Legislature is both a blessing and curse to the Parliamentary democracy. As a positive aspect, it ensures harmony between the Legislature and the Executive. The Cabinet is a committee of the Legislature. The ministers are drawn from the majority party in the Legislature. They work in close cooperation. The Prime Minister is leader of the Cabinet as well as of the majority party. Therefore, there are no possibilities of conflict between the two principal organs of government.

2. Faster and smoother decisions: Decisions can be quickly taken and vigorously implemented. Unlike the Presidential government, the Executive has no fear that its decisions may not be approved by the a  Legislature. The commonality leads to a mostly cooperative relationship. The Cabinet therefore,  takes decisions  knowing that they will be endorsed by the Parliament. With the Parliamentary support being assured the Cabinet can effectively implement its policies and program.

3. Responsible Government: This government cannot become irresponsible . First of all, a series of institutional mechanism such as Parliamentary questions, Parliamentary committees, etc followed by public scrutiny through these mechanisms keep the government responsive. If opposition  parties are well-organized and believe in constructive criticism, then it makes a tremendous transformation in democracy. In fact, constructive debates between opposition parties and ministers in the Parliament are frequently referred to as essence of the 'Parliamentarianism' . Mistakes and lapses of the government are highlighted by the opposition both inside the parliament and outside it. No government wants to give an opportunity to the people to throw it out for inefficiency or corruption. Thus, the opposition acts as a watchdog of democracy. The government remains alert. It cannot afford to become complacent.

4. Prevents Despotism: In Parliamentary form of government the authority is widely dispersed. Executive authority is given to the group of ministers and not a single person . The parliament constantly monitors the Executive. The Parliament can remove this Executive any time it loses its confidences in the ministry. The supreme command of army in India is given in the hands of the President. Hence this form of government cannot become autocratic.

5. Wider representation of people ensured: Since the Executive consists of group of ministers, it is possible to provide representation to all sections and regions of the country.

6. Ready alternative government: An alternative government is easily available in this system. Normally there are two major parties in the Parliament . If the government is defeated on the floor of the House the opposition may be called upon to form the government. There need be no fear of political instability or vacuum.

7. Other possible merits

a. Opposition political party has scope to offer a constructive criticism of governmental policies.
b. It is responsive to public opinion.
c. It is flexible and elastic. Whenever there is a crisis, smooth change of government is possible without revolution.

DEMERITS OF PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT

1. No separation of powers: Firstly, it violates the theory of separation of powers. This occasionally endangers the liberty of the people. All power is, in the theory, concentrated in the Parliament. It is said to be sovereign. In practice all powers get concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister. As we have seen, he is leader of the majority party. He distributes offices. Ministers do not go against his wishes. The majority party cannot afford to annoy him. He may refuse to give party tickets for the next general election to the members who do not obey him. Thus, the Prime Minister becomes so  powerful that he may not tolerate any criticism and people's interest may be ignored .

2. Political instability: Parliamentary government is commonly associated with political instability. If there are three or more parties and none of them is in clear majority in the parliament, coalition governments may be formed . Coalition governments are constantly under the threat of losing the support of allies and their major efforts are directed towards satisfying these allies at the cost of national programme. These governments may have short life as they tend to collapse because of infighting . No effective governance is possible when governments change quickly.

3. Dictatorship of  Cabinet: The common party affiliation of the Executive and majority of the Legislature also leads to what is famously called the tyranny of the Cabinet. If the Cabinet is sure of majority support  in the parliament, it may take decisions according to its own interests, unheeding to prudence or public opinion. The Executive often becomes dictatorial. It may ignore not only criticism by the  opposition but even public opinion.

4. Government by amateurs: Parliamentary government is a government by amateurs. Ministers who head the administrative departments do not have specialized  knowledge . The Prime Minister may allot any portfolio to any of his ministers . Their portfolios are often changed. This leaves the actual administration in the hands of civil servants . They are not elected representatives of the people. They are appointed for their skill and administrative capabilities . Ministers become dependent on them. The government remains democratic only in name. It becomes bureaucratic.

PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT

The Presidential form of government is one where the Executive is constitutionally independent of the Legislature in respect to the duration of his or their tenure and is not responsible to it for his or for their political policies. The Presidential form of government, unlike the Parliamentary system, is based on separation of powers, not on the fusion of Legislature and the Executive. The President is directly elected by the people. The Executive is constitutionally independent of the Legislature. The President is the actual head both of the State and the Government. That means, there is no nominal or titular Executive in the Presidential Government . The Presidential system is found , besides the United States of America, in several Latin American countries. The American Legislature is called the Congress. Its two chambers are: the ease of Representatives (Lower House) and the  Senate (Upper House).

ESSENTIAL FEATURES

1. President as the real Executive: There is no nominal or ceremonial Executive. All the Executive powers are vested in the hands of the President. The President is free to choose his Ministers or Secretaries from anywhere. The Ministers don't have Constitutional  status. They assist the President to the extent he needs it.

2. Separation of powers: The powers of the three organs namely, Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are separate and vested in different persons. The Executive and the Legislature are independent of each other.

3. Non-responsible Executive: The President and his Ministers are not members of Legislature. They are not responsible to Legislature. The Legislature cannot question the President and his Ministers.

4. Fixed tenure of the President: The tenure of office cannot be lessened or increased under any circumstances. The President can be removed by the Legislature only by a process of impeachment. The Legislature too cannot be dissolved before the expiry of its fixed tenure.