Presidential

President elected by
the citizens

Parliamentary
Prime Minister (PM)
selected by the
majority party in
Parliament

Presidential:
Separation of Powers: Executive &
Legislative

President and Cabinet are not members of

the legislature.
Parliamentary:
No separation between legislative and
executive branches
PM & Cabinet are MPs (members of
Parliament)
PM + Cabinet members + other senior
MPs in the party = the Government

Presidential:
Pres. & Cabinet cant be removed due to losing a
majority in Congress. (only by impeachment)
Nominees selected by primaries/caucuses
Elections regularly scheduled
Parliamentary:
Govt. remains in office only if it retains support of
majority in Parliament.
Nominees selected by heads of party
PM may call new Parliament elections at any time
up to 5 years.

Presidential:
President has only bargaining leverage
over Congressional votes.
Members of Congress introduce bills.
Bills change significantly in Congress.
Both houses of Congress have significant
power
Parliamentary:
PM has much leverage over MPs votes.
PM/Cabinet introduce most bills.
Bills are passed with few changes.
2nd house of Parliament may have little
power.

Presidential:
Intricate system of
Checks & Balances
Judicial Review
Presidential veto
Congressional
override of veto
Impeachment
Senate confirmation
of treaties and
Presidential
appointees
Etc..

Parliamentary
System:

Fewer Checks & Balances

No Confidence vote
House of Lords may delay
legislation for 1 year
Cabinet pressure on PM
Question Hour
Tradition &
Reasonableness

Advantages:
Separation of Powers?
No branch or individual too powerful
More democratic? more interests
represented; more compromise
Disadvantages:
Slow process
Piecemeal Legislation
Hard to create change / fulfill campaign
promises

Advantages:

Efficient / Quick process

Easy to create change / fulfill
campaign promises
More accountability to public?
Coherent laws and policy

Disadvantages:

too much Concentration of

power?
Fewer interests represented
Change too drastic when
parties switch?
Legislative process more
symbolic