Lecture 11: Parliamentary System © The Constitution of India provides for a parliamentary form of government, both at the Centre and in the state. © Articles 74 and 75 deal with the parliamentary system at the Centre and Articles 163 and 164 in the states. + Democratic Government can be parliamentary or presidental ‘© Parliamentary Government is one in which the executive is responsible to the Legislature, ‘© The Presidential system is one in which the executive is not responsible tothe legislature for its policies and acts. ‘© The Parliament government is also called cabinet government or responsible government. 11.1 Features of Parliamentary Government Nominal and Real executive Majority Party rule Collective responsibility Political Homogeneity Double membership Leadership of the prime minister Dissolution of the lower house Secrecy No strict separation of power 11.2 Features of Presidential Government ‘© Head of the state and head of the government are the same. ©The executive is not responsible to the legislature. ‘© The executive cannot dissolve the houses of representatives, © The doctrine of strict separation of power is absolutely maintained. 11.3 Merits and Demerits of Parliamentary government S.No. Merits Demerits Polity © SYNOPSISIAS PROCESS SMPLIFIED 1] Harmony Between Unstable Legislature and jovernment Executive 2 Responsible | No Continuity oF Government Policies 3 _| Prevents Despotism | Dictatorship of the Cabinet 4 | Ready Altemative Against “) Government Separation of Powers 3 Wide ‘Goverment by Representation Amateurs 11.4 Comparing Parliamentary and Presidential Systems Parliamentary Presidential System System T Dual executive, | Single executive. 2 | Majority party rule [~ President and legislators elected separately for a fixed term 3 Collective Non-responsibility responsibility 7 Political Political homogeneity | homogeneity may not exist 3 | Leadership of prime | Domination of minister president © | Double membership ‘Single membership 7__| Dissolution of Lower | No dissolution of House Lower House 3 | Fusion of powers Separation of powers. 11.5 Merits and Demerits of Presidential System $‘S.No. Merits Demerits T Stable Conflict between government. legislature and executive, 2__| Definitenessin | Non-responsible policies, ‘government. Based on May Tead 10 separation of autocracy. powers 4 | Government by Narrow experts representation, 11.6 Reasons For Adopting Parliamentary System Familiarity with the System Preference to More Responsi Need to Avoid Legislative—Executive Conflicts Nature of Indian Society iy 111.7 Distinetion Between Indian And British Models Tndian British Republican system Monarchical System Limited Powers to Parliament Sovereignty of Parliament Prime Minister can be a ‘member of any house Prime Minister must be a member of the lower house appointed mi ‘months. Members are usually isters, or they should become a ‘member within six Members are usually “appointed as ministers No legal responsibility Tegal responsibility of ministers No such system Shadow cabinet 11.8 Court Judgments Polity © SYNOPSISIAS PROCESS SIMPLIFIED In kesavanand bharti case Parliamentary System was declared a part of the Basie Structure.