More than 50% of the world today has a democratic government, which allows for popular participation through

the electoral process. These

democratic governments can be representative or direct. 

In a direct democracy, political power is placed in the hands of all individuals in the state who come together to make a decision. In a representative
democracy, on the other hand, individuals that are elected through an electoral process act as intermediaries between the people of the state and the
policy decisions. Basically, a person elected by the people takes decisions on their behalf.

Now a representative democracy can be divided into Parliamentary and Presidential democracy. In this article, we will discuss the features,
advantages and disadvantages of both of these types of representative governments, and the difference between them.

Democracy

Representative Direct

Presidential Parliamentary

As per above Introduction, The most common democratic form government systems are

 Presidential
 Parliamentary
In addition to this, there can be a mix of both Presidential and Parliamentary government systems which can Hybrid of both forms of structures.
In the perspective of the assignment, let me first give a brief perspective in chronological order of
I. Presidential System

1. Features of Presidential System

2. Merits and Demerits of Presidential System

II. Parliamentary System

 3. Features of Parliamentary System
4. Merits and Demerits of Parliamentary System

III. Comparison of Presidential and Parliamentary System

IV. India, Best Suited Government Structure

Presidential Government
The origin of the Presidential form of government can be traced back to medieval England, France and Scotland, where the executive authority lay
with the Monarch or Crown (King/Queen) and not the estates of the realm (Parliament). This influenced the constitutional makers of the United
States of America, who created the office of President, for which direct elections were to be held. Let’s have a look at the countries where the
Presidential system is followed today.

Area Countries

Central and
The United States of America; Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El
South
Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Uruguay; Venezuela.
America

Angola; Benin; Burundi; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Comoros; Republic of Congo; Gabon; Gambia;
Africa Ghana; Guinea; Kenya; Liberia; Malawi; Mozambique; Nigeria; Sierra Leone; Seychelles; Sudan; South Sudan; Tanzania;
Togo; Zambia; Zimbabwe.

Asia Indonesia; Maldives; Palau; Philippines; South Korea.

The Middle
East and Afghanistan; Iran; Belarus; Cyprus; Kazakhstan; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan; Yemen.
Central Asia

Features of Presidential System

There are basically two forms of democratic government systems – Presidential and Parliamentary. India follows a parliamentary form of
government modelled on Britain’s. Our founding fathers had strong reasons for adopting this, as opposed to the presidential system. In this article, we
compare both systems for the polity and governance sections of the UPSC syllabus.g
Apart from the parliamentary and presidential systems, there can also be a hybrid system incorporating features of both systems.   The chief difference
between these systems is the extent of power separation between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. Another major difference between
the presidential and parliamentary systems is the accountability of the executive to the legislature. 
First, we will discuss both forms of government systems enumerating their merits and drawbacks and then do a comparison of both the systems.
Features of the Presidential System
In a presidential system, the head of the government leads an executive, that is distinct from the legislature. Here, the head of the government and the
head of the state are one and the same. Also, a key feature is that the executive is not responsible to the legislature.

1. The executive (President) can veto acts by the legislature. This implies there is only One executive
2. The President has a fixed tenure and cannot be removed by a vote of no-confidence in the legislature.
3. Generally, the President has the power to pardon or commute judicial sentences awarded to criminals.
4. The President is elected directly by the people or by an electoral college. 
5. The President is both head of state and government, e.g USA, South Korea etc.

Merits and Demerits of Presidential System.

Merits Demerits
Separation of powers: Efficiency of administration is greatly enhanced Less responsible executive: Since the legislature has no hold over the
since the three arms of the government are independent of each other. executive and the president, the head of the government can turn

Expert government: Since the executive need not be legislators, the
President can choose experts in various fields to head relevant
departments or ministries. This will make sure that people who are
capable and knowledgeable form part of the government
Stability: This type of government is stable. Since the term of the
president is fixed and not subject to majority support in the legislative,
he need not worry about losing the government. There is no danger of a
sudden fall of the government. There is no political pressure on the
president to make decisions
Less influence of the party system: Political parties do not attempt to
dislodge the government since the tenure is fixed.
authoritarian
Deadlocks between executive and legislature: Since there is a more
strict separation of powers here, there can be frequent tussles between
both arms of the government, especially if the legislature is not dominated
by the president’s political party. This can lead to an erosion in efficiency
because of wastage of time
Rigid government: Presidential systems are often accused of being rigid.
It lacks flexibility
Spoils system: The system gives the president sweeping powers of
patronage. Here, he can choose executives as per his will. This gives rise
to the spoils system where people close to the president (relatives,
business associates, etc.) get roles in the government.

Merits of Presidential System

The advantages of the presidential system are given below:

 Separation of powers: Efficiency of administration is greatly enhanced since the three arms of the government are independent of each
other.
 Expert government: Since the executive need not be legislators, the President can choose experts in various fields to head relevant
departments or ministries. This will make sure that people who are capable and knowledgeable form part of the government.
 Stability: This type of government is stable. Since the term of the president is fixed and not subject to majority support in the legislative,
he need not worry about losing the government. There is no danger of a sudden fall of the government. There is no political pressure on the
president to make decisions.
 Less influence of the party system: Political parties do not attempt to dislodge the government since the tenure is fixed.

Demerits of Presidential System

The disadvantages of the presidential system are given below:

 Less responsible executive: Since the legislature has no hold over the executive and the president, the head of the government can turn
authoritarian.
 Deadlocks between executive and legislature: Since there is a more strict separation of powers here, there can be frequent tussles
between both arms of the government, especially if the legislature is not dominated by the president’s political party. This can lead to an
erosion in efficiency because of wastage of time.
 Rigid government: Presidential systems are often accused of being rigid. It lacks flexibility.
 Spoils system: The system gives the president sweeping powers of patronage. Here, he can choose executives as per his will. This gives
rise to the spoils system where people close to the president (relatives, business associates, etc.) get roles in the government.

Parliamentary System
A Parliamentary form of democracy is also known as the Cabinet form of government or the ‘Responsible Government’. It refers to a system of
governance in which the citizens elect representatives to the legislative Parliament. This Parliament is responsible to make the decisions and laws for
the state. It is also directly answerable to the people. 

Attempts to create a system of Parliamentary democracy were seen in the European Revolution of 1848 but these did not lead to any consolidated
system. Parliamentary democracy came to be in 1918 and developed throughout the twentieth century.

Let’s look at the countries which have a Parliamentary democracy.

Area Countries

North and Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Canada; Dominica; Grenada; Jamaica; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint
South
America
 Lucia; Saint Vincent and Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; Suriname.

Bangladesh; Bhutan; Cambodia; India; Iraq; Israel; Japan; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal;
Asia
Pakistan; Singapore; Thailand.

Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany;
Europe Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Kosovo; Latvia; Luxembourg; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; North
Macedonia; Norway; San Marino; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland;  United Kingdom.

Oceania Australia; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Vanuatu.

Features of the Parliamentary System

The parliament is generally superlative, and the executive is responsible to the legislature. It is also known as the Cabinet form of government,
commonly called ‘Responsible Government’.
Few common highlights of Parliamentary System are

1. Close relationship between the legislature and the executive: Here, the Prime Minister along with the Council of Ministers form the
executive and the Parliament is the legislature. The PM and the ministers are elected from the members of parliament, implying that the
executive emerges out of the legislature.
2. Executive responsible to the legislature: The executive is responsible to the legislature. There is a collective responsibility, that is, each
minister’s responsibility is the responsibility of the whole Council.
3. Dual executive: There are two executives – the real executive and the titular executive. The nominal executive is the head of state
(president or monarch) while the real executive is the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.
4. Secrecy of procedure: A prerequisite of this form of government is that cabinet proceedings are secret and not meant to be divulged to the
public. 
5. Leadership of the Prime Minister: The leader of this form of government is the Prime Minister. Generally, the leader of the party that
wins a majority in the lower house is appointed as the PM.
6. Bicameral Legislature: Most parliamentary democracies follow bicameral legislature.
7. No fixed tenure: The term of the government depends on its majority support in the lower house. If the government does not win a vote of
no confidence, the council of ministers has to resign. Elections will be held and a new government is formed.

India follows this system chiefly influenced by the British model, there are a few differences between the Indian and British systems. They are:

 In India, the PM can be from either the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha. In Britain, the PM will always be from the lower house, the House
of Commons.
 In Britain, the speaker once appointed, formally resigns from his/her political party. In India, the speaker continues to be a member of
his/her party though he/she is expected to be impartial in the proceedings.
 The concept of a shadow cabinet is absent in India. In Britain, the opposition forms a shadow cabinet that scrutinises the actions and
policies of the government. It also offers alternative programmes.

Merits and Demerits of Parliamentary System.

Merits
Better coordination between the executive and the legislature: Since
the executive is a part of the legislature, and generally the majority of the
legislature support the government, it is easier to pass laws and
implement them.
Prevents authoritarianism: Since the executive is responsible to the
legislature, and can vote it out in a motion of no confidence, there is no
Demerits
No separation of powers: Since there is no genuine separation of
powers, the legislature cannot always hold the executive responsible. This
is especially true if the government has a good majority in the house.
Also, because of anti-defection rules, legislators cannot exercise their free
will and vote as per their understanding and opinions. They have to follow
the party whip
Unqualified legislators: The system creates legislators whose intention is
 authoritarianism. Also, unlike the presidential system, power is not to enter the executive only. They are largely unqualified to legislate.
concentrated in one hand.

Responsible government: The members of the legislature can ask
questions and discuss matters of public interest and put pressure on the
government. The parliament can check the activities of the executive.
Representing diverse groups: In this system, the parliament offers
representation to diverse groups of the country. This is especially
important for a country like India.
Instability: Since the governments sustain only as long as they can prove
a majority in the house, there is instability if there is no single-largest
party after the elections. Coalition governments are generally quite
unstable and short-lived. Because of this, the executive has to focus on
how to stay in power rather than worry about the state of affairs/welfare
of the people
Ministers: The executive should belong to the ruling party. This rules out
the hiring of industry experts for the job.

Flexibility: There is flexibility in the system as the PM can be changed
easily if needed. During the Second World War, the British PM Neville
Chamberlain was replaced by Winston Churchill. This is unlike the
presidential system where he/she can be replaced only after the entire
term or in case of impeachment/incapacity.
Failure to take a prompt decision: Since there is no fixed tenure
enjoyed by the Council of Ministers, it often hesitates from taking bold
and long-term policy decisions.
Party politics: Party politics is more evident in the parliamentary system
where partisan interests drive politicians more than national interests.
Control by the bureaucracy: Civil servants exercise a lot of power.
They advise the ministers on various matters and are also not responsible
to the legislature.

Comparison of Presidential and Parliamentary Government

Basis  Parliamentary  Presidential 

It is a form of government where the
legislature and executive are closely related to
Meaning  each other. It is a system in which the citizens
elect representatives to the legislative
Parliament.
Executive  Dual
Accountability Executive accountable to legislature
Ministers  Only from among MPs
Dissolution of lower house PM can dissolve before the expiry of the term
Tenure  Not fixed
The principle of Separation of powers is not
followed strictly. There is concentration and
Separation of Powers
fusion of powers between the Legislative and
the Executive.
Party discipline is stronger and the system
Party Discipline leans towards unified action, block voting and
distinct party platforms.
This type of government is less autocratic as
Autocracy immense power is not given to only one
person.
It is a system of government in which the
three organs of the government – the
executive, judiciary, legislature work
separately. In it, the President is the chief
executive and is elected directly by the
citizens.
Single 
Executive not accountable to legislature
People outside the legislature can be appointed
President cannot dissolve
Fixed 
The principle of Separation of powers is
strictly followed. Powers are divided and the
Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary
work separately. 
Party discipline is comparatively less and
failure to vote with one’s party does not
threaten the government.
This type of government is more autocratic as
immense power is concentrated in the hands
of the President.

Difference between the Parliamentary and Presidential forms of the Government

Basis Parliamentary Form of Government Presidential Form of Government

It is a form of government where the legislature and
executive are closely related to each other. It is a
Meaning 
system in which the citizens elect representatives to the
legislative Parliament.
It is a system of government in which the three organs of
the government – the executive, judiciary, legislature work
separately. In it, the President is the chief executive and is
elected directly by the citizens.

Executive There is dual executive as leader of the state and leader There is a single executive as the leader of the state and the
 of the government are different. leader of the government is the same.

The ministers belong to the ruling party  and are

The ministers can be chosen from outside the legislature,
Ministers Members of Parliament. No outsider is allowed to
and are usually industry experts.
become a minister.

Accountability The Executive is accountable  to the Legislature.  The Executive is not accountable to the Legislature.

Dissolution of
The Prime Minister can dissolve the lower house. The President cannot dissolve the lower house.
lower house

The tenure of the Prime Minister depends upon the

Tenure majority support in the Parliament, and is thus, not The tenure of the President is fixed.
fixed.

The principle of Separation of powers is not followed
Separation of
strictly. There is concentration and fusion of powers
Powers
between the Legislative and the Executive.
The principle of Separation of powers is strictly followed.
Powers are divided and the Legislature, the Executive and
the Judiciary work separately. 

Party discipline is stronger and the system leans

Party discipline is comparatively less and failure to vote
Party Discipline towards unified action, block voting and distinct party
with one’s party does not threaten the government.
platforms.

This type of government is less autocratic as immense This type of government is more autocratic as immense
Autocracy
power is not given to only one person. power is concentrated in the hands of the President.

In the same light let us also argue for and against each type of Government.

Arguments Against the Parliamentary System:

1. Unqualified Legislators: The parliamentary system has created unqualified legislators, who have sought election only in order to
wield executive power.
2. It limits executive posts to those who are electable rather than to those who are able, e.g. the prime minister cannot appoint a cabinet
of his choice; he has to cater to the wishes of the political leaders of several parties.
3. Powerful Executive: Most of the laws are drafted by the executive and parliamentary input into their formulation and passage is
minimal. It has been seen that the ruling party issues a whip to its members ensure unimpeded passage of a bill.
4. Fickle Legislative Majority: It has forced governments to concentrate less on governing than on staying in office, and obliged them to
cater their coalitions.
5. Distorted Voting Preference: It has distorted the voting preferences of an electorate that knows which individual it wants to vote for
but not necessarily which party.
Arguments in FOR Presidential System:

1. Stable Executive: It establishes a stable executive which does not depend upon the fluctuating will of the legislature especially in case
of coalition governments.
A system of directly elected chief executives at all levels – panchayat chiefs, town mayors, Chief Ministers (or Governors) and a national
President – elected for a fixed term of office, invulnerable to the whims of the legislature, and with clearly defined authority in their
respective domains – would permit India to deal more efficiently with its critical economic and social challenges.
2. Ability Over Electability: Cabinet posts would not be limited to those who are electable rather than those who are able.The President
can appoint anyone as secretaries (equivalent to minister).
 3. Effective Check and Balance: It establishes the presidency and the legislature as two parallel structures. This allows each structure
to monitor and check the other, hence preventing the abuse of power.
4. Role of Citizens: At the end of a fixed period of time, the public would be able to judge the individual’s performance, rather than on
political skill at keeping a government in office.

Argument Against the Presidential Form:

1. Lack of Cooperation: A weakness of the system is its failure to ensure the co-operation between law-makers and
administrators.Frequent conflicts between the legislature and the executive may lead to deadlocks.
2. Autocratic: A presidential system centralises power in one individual unlike the parliamentary system, where the Prime Minister is
the first among equals. The surrender to the authority of one individual, as in the presidential system, is dangerous for democracy.
3. Concerns over Separation of Powers: If the legislature is dominated by the same party to which the President belongs, he may
prevent any move from the legislature.

Benefit of Parliamentary System:

1. Ensures Diverse Representation: By looking at the diversity and the number of parties from different states, India needs a diverse
cabinet to fulfill the aspirations of millions.
Hence, the parliamentary system ensures the regional representations by selecting candidates from different parts of the country.
2. Basic Structure of Constitution: It is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Altering the parliament system would face
legal hurdles.
3. Prevents Authoritarianism: Since the executive is responsible to the legislature, and can vote it out in a motion of no confidence,
there is no authoritarianism. Also, unlike the presidential system, power is not concentrated in one hand, rather in a group of
individuals (Council of Ministers).
4. Better Coordination: Since the executive is a part of the legislature, and generally the majority of the legislature support the
government, it is easier to pass laws and implement them.
5. Matured System: It is an old system and can give news ideas with its experience in a democratic setup

Parliamentary System of Government

India chose a parliamentary form of government primarily because the constitution-makers were greatly influenced by the system in England.
Another reason the founding fathers saw was that the parliamentary model would only work to accommodate the varied and diverse groups within
our population. Also, the strict separation of powers in the presidential system would cause conflicts between the two branches, the executive and the
legislature, which our newly-independent country could ill-afford.
There are more parliamentary forms of government in the world than there are presidencies. In this system, the parliament is generally supreme and
the executive is responsible to the legislature. It is also known as the Cabinet form of government, and also ‘Responsible Government’.
Features of the parliamentary system

8. Close relationship between the legislature and the executive: Here, the Prime Minister along with the Council of Ministers form the
executive and the Parliament is the legislature. The PM and the ministers are elected from the members of parliament, implying that the
executive emerges out of the legislature.
9. Executive responsible to the legislature: The executive is responsible to the legislature. There is a collective responsibility, that is, each
minister’s responsibility is the responsibility of the whole Council.
10. Dual executive: There are two executives – the real executive and the titular executive. The nominal executive is the head of state
(president or monarch) while the real executive is the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.
11. Secrecy of procedure: A prerequisite of this form of government is that cabinet proceedings are secret and not meant to be divulged to the
public. 
12. Leadership of the Prime Minister: The leader of this form of government is the Prime Minister. Generally, the leader of the party that
wins a majority in the lower house is appointed as the PM.
13. Bicameral Legislature: Most parliamentary democracies follow bicameral legislature.
14. No fixed tenure: The term of the government depends on its majority support in the lower house. If the government does not win a vote of
no confidence, the council of ministers has to resign. Elections will be held and a new government is formed.

Although India follows this system chiefly influenced by the British model, there are a few differences between the Indian and British systems. They
are:
  In India, the PM can be from either the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha. In Britain, the PM will always be from the lower house, the House
of Commons.
 In Britain, the speaker once appointed, formally resigns from his/her political party. In India, the speaker continues to be a member of
his/her party though he/she is expected to be impartial in the proceedings.
 The concept of a shadow cabinet is absent in India. In Britain, the opposition forms a shadow cabinet that scrutinises the actions and
policies of the government. It also offers alternative programmes.

Merits of Parliamentary System

The advantages of the parliamentary system are as follows:

 Better coordination between the executive and the legislature: Since the executive is a part of the legislature, and generally the majority
of the legislature support the government, it is easier to pass laws and implement them.
 Prevents authoritarianism: Since the executive is responsible to the legislature, and can vote it out in a motion of no confidence, there is
no authoritarianism. Also, unlike the presidential system, power is not concentrated in one hand.
 Responsible government: The members of the legislature can ask questions and discuss matters of public interest and put pressure on the
government. The parliament can check the activities of the executive.
 Representing diverse groups: In this system, the parliament offers representation to diverse groups of the country. This is especially
important for a country like India.
 Flexibility: There is flexibility in the system as the PM can be changed easily if needed. During the Second World War, the British PM
Neville Chamberlain was replaced by Winston Churchill. This is unlike the presidential system where he/she can be replaced only after the
entire term or in case of impeachment/incapacity.

Demerits of Parliamentary System

The disadvantages of the parliamentary system are as follows:

 No separation of powers: Since there is no genuine separation of powers, the legislature cannot always hold the executive responsible.
This is especially true if the government has a good majority in the house. Also, because of anti-defection rules, legislators cannot exercise
their free will and vote as per their understanding and opinions. They have to follow the party whip.
 Unqualified legislators: The system creates legislators whose intention is to enter the executive only. They are largely unqualified to
legislate.
 Instability: Since the governments sustain only as long as they can prove a majority in the house, there is instability if there is no single-
largest party after the elections. Coalition governments are generally quite unstable and short-lived. Because of this, the executive has to
focus on how to stay in power rather than worry about the state of affairs/welfare of the people.
 Ministers: The executive should belong to the ruling party. This rules out the hiring of industry experts for the job.
 Failure to take a prompt decision: Since there is no fixed tenure enjoyed by the Council of Ministers, it often hesitates from taking bold
and long-term policy decisions.
 Party politics: Party politics is more evident in the parliamentary system where partisan interests drive politicians more than national
interests.
 Control by the bureaucracy: Civil servants exercise a lot of power. They advise the ministers on various matters and are also not
responsible to the legislature.

Comparison of Presidential and Parliamentary Systems

Basis  Parliamentary  Presidential 

Executive  Dual Single 

Accountability Executive accountable to legislature Executive not accountable to legislature

Ministers  Only from among MPs People outside the legislature can be appointed

Dissolution of lower house PM can dissolve before the expiry of the term President cannot dissolve
 Tenure  Not fixed Fixed 

UPSC aspirants should know the different forms of government from the Indian Polity perspective to better align their UPSC preparation. The
information about different types of government forms the clarity in the political administration of the country.
Kickstart your UPSC 2021 Preparation today!
Presidential and Parliamentary Form of Government – Indian Polity:-Download PDF Here

UPSC Questions related to Presidential and Parliamentary Form of Government

Does a parliamentary democracy have a president?

A parliamentary democracy can have a president who is the nominal head of the executive.

Why do we have a parliamentary form of government?

Our founding fathers thought the parliamentary system suited India the best because of its diversity and also because of the experience with the
British system.

Which is the best form of government parliamentary or presidential?

Both systems have merits and demerits. It depends on the country and the system which is best suited for it

Recently, it has been suggested that India should adopt the presidential form of government instead of the parliamentary style of democracy,
inherited from the British.

 These suggestions have been given in the backdrop of frequent elections and related administrative as well as financial burden
owned by India.
Parliamentary System of Government

 There are two executives:

o The nominal executive is the head of state e.g. President while the real executive is the Prime Minister, who is the
head of government.
 In such a system, the role of president or monarch is primarily ceremonial and the Prime Minister along with the cabinet wields
effective power.
 Countries with such a system include Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom as well as Portugal.
 The Constitution of India provides for a parliamentary form of government, both at the Centre and in the States.

o Articles 74 and 75 deal with the parliamentary system of government at the Union level and Articles 163 and
164 contain provisions with regard to the States.
 Executive is responsible to the legislature for its policies and acts.
Presidential System of Government

Key Points

 Arguments Against the Parliamentary System:

o Unqualified Legislators: The parliamentary system has created unqualified legislators, who have sought election
only in order to wield executive power.
  It limits executive posts to those who are electable rather than to those who are able, e.g. the
prime minister cannot appoint a cabinet of his choice; he has to cater to the wishes of the political
leaders of several parties.
o Powerful Executive: Most of the laws are drafted by the executive and parliamentary input into their formulation
and passage is minimal. It has been seen that the ruling party issues a whip to its members in order to ensure
unimpeded passage of a bill.

 Since defiance of a whip itself attracts disqualification, MPs blindly vote as their party directs.

 Hence, the parliamentary system does not permit the existence of a legislature distinct from the
executive.
o Fickle Legislative Majority: It has forced governments to concentrate less on governing than on staying in office,
and obliged them to cater their coalitions.

 It puts insurance on defections and horse-trading. The anti-defection Act of 1985 has failed to

cure the problem, since the bargaining has shifted to getting enough MLAs to resign to topple a
government, while promising them offices when they win the subsequent by-elections.
o Distorted Voting Preference:

 It has distorted the voting preferences of an electorate that knows which individual it wants to
vote for but not necessarily which party.
 Arguments in Favour of Presidential System:

o Stable Executive: It establishes a stable executive which does not depend upon the fluctuating will of the
legislature especially in case of coalition governments.

 A system of directly elected chief executives at all levels – panchayat chiefs, town mayors, Chief
Ministers (or Governors) and a national President – elected for a fixed term of office,
invulnerable to the whims of the legislature, and with clearly defined authority in their respective
domains – would permit India to deal more efficiently with its critical economic and social
challenges.
o Ability Over Electability: Cabinet posts would not be limited to those who are electable rather than those who are
able.

 The President can appoint anyone as secretaries (equivalent to minister).

o Effective Check and Balance: It establishes the presidency and the legislature as two parallel structures. This
allows each structure to monitor and check the other, hence preventing the abuse of power.
o Role of Citizens: At the end of a fixed period of time, the public would be able to judge the individual’s
performance, rather than on political skill at keeping a government in office.

 Further, the Indian voter will be able to vote directly for the individual he or she wants to be
chosen as a head rather than a majority of Members of Parliament and Legislative assembly.
 Argument Against the Presidential Form:

o Lack of Cooperation: A weakness of the system is its failure to ensure the co-operation between law-makers
and administrators.

 Frequent conflicts between the legislature and the executive may lead to deadlocks.
o Autocratic: A presidential system centralises power in one individual unlike the parliamentary system, where
the Prime Minister is the first among equals. The surrender to the authority of one individual, as in the presidential
system, is dangerous for democracy.
 o Concerns over Separation of Powers: If the legislature is dominated by the same party to which the President
belongs, he may prevent any move from the legislature.
 Benefit of Parliamentary System:

o Ensures Diverse Representation: By looking at the diversity and the number of parties from different states,
India needs a diverse cabinet to fulfill the aspirations of millions.

 Hence, the parliamentary system ensures the regional representations by selecting candidates

from different parts of the country.
o Basic Structure of Constitution: It is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Altering the parliament
system would face legal hurdles.
o Prevents Authoritarianism: Since the executive is responsible to the legislature, and can vote it out in a motion
of no confidence, there is no authoritarianism. Also, unlike the presidential system, power is not concentrated in
one hand, rather in a group of individuals (Council of Ministers).
o Better Coordination: Since the executive is a part of the legislature, and generally the majority of the legislature
support the government, it is easier to pass laws and implement them.
o Matured System: It is an old system and can give news ideas with its experience in a democartic setup.

Way Forward

 We should ensure a system of government whose leaders can focus on governance rather than on staying in power. The present
parliamentary system has been tried and tested for nearly 70 years. It can be reformed thoroughly to remove the challenges thrown
up by it.
 Further there is a need to reform the electoral processes to make democracy more robust. The debate should be on various
loopholes in electoral processes i.e from limiting expenditure of political parties and deciding the ceiling on the expenditure, to
holding simultaneous elections, declaring the results for a combination of booths instead of constituencies, etc.
Conclusion
The system of governance in countries differs depending on whether a country has a Presidential or Parliamentary system. There are some countries
who have adopted a mixture of both these types as well. These systems have multiple differences based on separation of powers, accountability,
executives etc.

Both of these systems come with their own advantages and disadvantages. A country chooses the system which suits it the most. The Parliamentary
system  allows representative governance, which is suitable in a diverse country like India.
Introduction

More than 50% of the world today has a democratic government, which allows for popular participation through the electoral process. These
democratic governments can be representative or direct. 

In a direct democracy, political power is placed in the hands of all individuals in the state who come together to make a decision. In a representative
democracy, on the other hand, individuals that are elected through an electoral process act as intermediaries between the people of the state and the
policy decisions. Basically, a person elected by the people takes decisions on their behalf.

Now a representative democracy can be divided into Parliamentary and Presidential democracy. In this article, we will discuss the features,
advantages and disadvantages of both of these types of representative governments, and the difference between them.
Presidential form of government

A Presidential system is also called a congressional system. It refers to a system of governance in which the President is the Chief Executive and is
elected directly by the people. The head of the government thus exists separately from the legislature. It is a form of government where the three
branches (legislature, executive and judiciary) exist separately and cannot dismiss or dissolve the other branch. While the legislature makes the laws,
the President enforces them and it is the courts that are responsible for exercising judicial duties.

The origin of the Presidential form of government can be traced back to medieval England, France and Scotland, where the executive authority lay
with the Monarch or Crown (King/Queen) and not the estates of the realm (Parliament). This influenced the constitutional makers of the United
States of America, who created the office of President, for which direct elections were to be held. Let’s have a look at the countries where the
Presidential system is followed today.

Area Countries

Central and
The United States of America; Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El
South
Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Uruguay; Venezuela.
America

Angola; Benin; Burundi; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Comoros; Republic of Congo; Gabon; Gambia;
Africa Ghana; Guinea; Kenya; Liberia; Malawi; Mozambique; Nigeria; Sierra Leone; Seychelles; Sudan; South Sudan; Tanzania;
Togo; Zambia; Zimbabwe.

Asia Indonesia; Maldives; Palau; Philippines; South Korea.

The Middle
East and Afghanistan; Iran; Belarus; Cyprus; Kazakhstan; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan; Yemen.
Central Asia

To understand this system better, let’s look at its features, advantages and disadvantages.

Features

The Presidential system of democratic governance has the following features: 

 President does not have nominal powers. He is both the head of the executive and the head of the state. As the head of the executive, he
has a ceremonial position. As the head of the government, he acts as the chief real executive. Thus, the Presidential system is
characterised by a single executive concept.
  President is directly elected by the people or the electoral college.

 The President cannot be removed, except through an impeachment procedure for a grave unconstitutional act.

 The President governs with the help of a small body of people. This is his cabinet. The cabinet is only an advisory body which consists
of non-elected departmental secretaries, who are selected by the president. It is responsible to the President, and the departmental
secretaries can be removed by him.

 The President and his cabinet are not answerable to the legislature, nor are they members of the legislature.

 The concept of Separation of powers is clearly visible in the Presidential system. The three branches are completely separated and
members of one branch cannot be the members of the other branch. 

 The President can veto the acts of the legislature. He/She can also grant pardon.

Advantages

Now let’s look at the advantages of having a Presidential system:

 In most Presidential systems, the President is elected directly by the people. This creates more legitimacy than that of a leader who has
been appointed indirectly.

 Since in a Presidential system the branches of the government work separately, it becomes easier to maintain the system checks and
balances.

 The President, under this system, is usually less constrained and can take decisions more independently. Thus, this system allows for
quick decision making. This becomes very beneficial at the time of crisis.

 A Presidential government is more stable. This is because the term of the President is fixed and is not subject to majority support in the
legislative. Hence, he/she does not need to worry about losing the government. 

 Since it is the President who chooses his cabinet and the executive need not be legislators, the President is able to choose experts in
various fields to head relevant departments in his government. This ensures that only the people who are capable and knowledgeable
form part of the government.

 Once the election is complete and the President gains power, the whole nation accepts him/her. Political rivalries are forgotten and
people look at problems from a national view, rather than a party view.

Disadvantages

There are certain disadvantages which come with the Presidential System. Let’s understand what these are:

 The Presidential form of governance is autocratic as it places a lot of power in the hands of one person, i.e., the President. Also, the
President is out of the control of the legislature.

 The complete separation between the legislature and executive may lead to conflicts and a deadlock between the executive and the
legislature. The legislature may refuse to accept the policies of the executive; while the executive may not agree to the Acts passed by
the legislature, and the President may even veto them.

 This system gives the President the power to choose the people of his choice for his cabinet to form the government. The President
may misuse this power and choose his relatives, business partners etc, which might affect the political working of the state.

 It leads to less accountability in the government and may also result in the legislature and the executive playing the blame game in time
of crisis.

Parliamentary form of government

A Parliamentary form of democracy is also known as the Cabinet form of government or the ‘Responsible Government’. It refers to a system of
governance in which the citizens elect representatives to the legislative Parliament. This Parliament is responsible to make the decisions and laws for
the state. It is also directly answerable to the people. 
As a result of the elections, the party with the greatest representation forms the government. Its leader becomes the Prime Minister and performs
various executive functions along with the members of Parliament appointed by the Prime Minister to the cabinet. 

The parties who lose the elections form the minority and serve as opposition in the Parliament. These parties challenge the decisions of the party in
power. The Prime Minister may be removed from power in case the members of Parliament lose confidence in him.

Attempts to create a system of Parliamentary democracy were seen in the European Revolution of 1848 but these did not lead to any consolidated
system. Parliamentary democracy came to be in 1918 and developed throughout the twentieth century.

Let’s look at the countries which have a Parliamentary democracy.

Area Countries

North and
Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Canada; Dominica; Grenada; Jamaica; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint
South
Lucia; Saint Vincent and Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; Suriname.
America

Bangladesh; Bhutan; Cambodia; India; Iraq; Israel; Japan; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal;
Asia
Pakistan; Singapore; Thailand.

Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany;
Europe Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Kosovo; Latvia; Luxembourg; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; North
Macedonia; Norway; San Marino; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland;  United Kingdom.

Oceania Australia; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Vanuatu.

Now let’s look at the features, advantages and disadvantages of Parliamentary form of government to understand it better.

       Click above

Features
  The head of state and the head of government are different under the Parliamentary form of government. The head of the state is
usually the President or monarch. He/she has only ceremonial powers. The head of the government is generally the Prime Minister and
he/she is vested with real power.

 It can be either bicameral (with two houses) or unicameral (with one house). A bicameral system usually consists of a directly elected
lower house, which in turn elects the upper house.

 The powers of government are not completely separated. The lines between the legislature and the executive are blurred as executive
forms part of the legislature.

 This system is also characterised with the majority party rule. But no government can be a hundred percent majority, and the
Parliament also consists of the opposition.

 The council of ministers, in this system, are collectively responsible to the Parliament. The lower house of Parliament can even dismiss
the ruling government by passing a no confidence motion in the house.  

 Most of the time, in this form of government the cabinet proceedings are kept secret and are not meant to be divulged to the public.

Advantages

Adopting a Parliamentary system of governance has certain advantages. Let’s look at these in detail:

 There is better coordination between the legislature and the executive. This is because executive is part of the legislature and most
members of the lower house support the government . Thus, in Parliamentary system, there is lesser tendency of disputes and conflicts,
which makes it comparatively easier to pass legislation and implement it.

 This type of government is more flexible as, if required, the Prime Minister can be changed. For instance, in the UK   during the Second
World War, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was replaced by Winston Churchill. 

 A Parliamentary democracy allows representation of diverse groups. This system gives opportunities to various diverse ethical, racial,
linguistic and ideological groups to share their views and enable making of better and suitable laws and policies.

 Since, the executive is responsible to the Parliament, it has the power to keep a check upon the activities of the executive. Moreover,
the members of the Parliament can move resolutions, discuss matters and ask questions of public interest to put pressure on the
government. This enables responsible governance. 

 Parliamentary system prevents autocracy. This is because the executive is responsible to the legislature, and it is possible to vote out
the Prime Minister through a no confidence motion. Thus, power does not get concentrated in the hands of only one person.

 In case, the no confidence motion is passed, the leader of the state invites the opposition to form the government. Thereby, this system
provides an alternate government. 

Disadvantages

The Parliamentary system also has certain disadvantages. These are:

 Because of party fragmentation, the legislators cannot exercise their free will and vote as per their own understanding and opinions.
Rather, they have to follow the party policy.

 The system might lead to legislators who intend to enter the executive only. They are largely unqualified to legislate, which can
hamper the working of the government.

 Since the executive is formed of the members of the winning party, it is not the experts who head the departments.

 Since, in the Parliamentary system, tenure of the council of ministers is completely dependant upon their popularity, there is no fixed
tenure. Because of this they often hesitates to take bold and long-term policy decisions.

 Such governments might prove to be unstable. This is because the government exists only as long as they maintain majority support in
the house. Many a times, when coalition parties come into power, the government is short lived and disputes arise. Because of this, the
executive puts all of its focus upon staying in power, rather than  worrying about the welfare of people and state of affairs.
In India

In India, the system of democracy which exists is the Parliamentary Democracy. This model has been borrowed from the UK, but there are certain
differences:

 While in the UK, the Prime Minister can only be from the lower house, in India, the Prime Minister can be from both Lok Sabha or
Rajya Sabha.

 While in the UK once a person is appointed as the speaker, he/she ceases to be a member of his/her party, in India, the speaker
continues to be a member of his/her party but must make sure that he/she is impartial in the proceedings.

Difference between the Parliamentary and Presidential forms of the Government

Basis Parliamentary Form of Government Presidential Form of Government

It is a form of government where the legislature and
executive are closely related to each other. It is a
Meaning 
system in which the citizens elect representatives to the
legislative Parliament.
It is a system of government in which the three organs of
the government – the executive, judiciary, legislature work
separately. In it, the President is the chief executive and is
elected directly by the citizens.

There is dual executive as leader of the state and leader There is a single executive as the leader of the state and the
Executive
of the government are different. leader of the government is the same.

The ministers belong to the ruling party  and are

The ministers can be chosen from outside the legislature,
Ministers Members of Parliament. No outsider is allowed to
and are usually industry experts.
become a minister.

Accountability The Executive is accountable  to the Legislature.  The Executive is not accountable to the Legislature.

Dissolution of
The Prime Minister can dissolve the lower house. The President cannot dissolve the lower house.
lower house

The tenure of the Prime Minister depends upon the

Tenure majority support in the Parliament, and is thus, not The tenure of the President is fixed.
fixed.

The principle of Separation of powers is not followed
Separation of
strictly. There is concentration and fusion of powers
Powers
between the Legislative and the Executive.
The principle of Separation of powers is strictly followed.
Powers are divided and the Legislature, the Executive and
the Judiciary work separately. 

Party discipline is stronger and the system leans

Party discipline is comparatively less and failure to vote
Party Discipline towards unified action, block voting and distinct party
with one’s party does not threaten the government.
platforms.

This type of government is less autocratic as immense This type of government is more autocratic as immense
Autocracy
power is not given to only one person. power is concentrated in the hands of the President.
Conclusion

The system of governance in countries differs depending on whether a country has a Presidential or Parliamentary system. There are some countries
who have adopted a mixture of both these types as well. These systems have multiple differences based on separation of powers, accountability,
executives etc.

Both of these systems come with their own advantages and disadvantages. A country chooses the system which suits it the most. The Parliamentary
system  allows representative governance, which is suitable in a diverse country like India.

References

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/Parliamentary-democracy .

 https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/Presidential-and-Parliamentary-form-of-government/ .

 https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/Parliamentary-system-in-india-1437202137-1 .

 https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/administrative-law/the-Presidential-and-Parliamentary-governance-forms-administrative-
law-essay.php.