Parliamentary vs Presidential System: Features, Merits & Demerits

Parliamentary and Presidential System of Government

Constitutional Provisions

Government	Centre	States
Parliamentary System	Article 74 & 75	Article 163 & 164

Modern Democratic Government

On the basis of the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, democratic governments are of two types:

1. Parliamentary Government

• Also called: Cabinet Government, Responsible Government & Westminster Model
• Executive is responsible to Legislature.

2. Presidential Government

• Also called: Non-responsible Government, Non-Parliamentary System & Fixed Executive System
• Executive is independent of Legislature.

Prime Minister and Cabinet

• Earlier View: Prime Minister was described as: "Primus Inter Pares" (First Among Equals)

Present View

• PM's powers have increased considerably.
• PM plays a dominant role.
• Hence, British and Indian systems are often called: Prime Ministerial Government

Features of Parliamentary Government

1. Nominal and Real Executive

Nominal Executive	Real Executive
President	Prime Minister
De jure Executive	De facto Executive
Head of State	Head of Government

Article 74

• Council of Ministers headed by PM aids and advises President.
• Advice is binding on President.
• Strengthened by: 42nd Amendment & 44th Amendment

2. Majority Party Rule

• Majority party in Lok Sabha forms government.
• If no party gets majority → Coalition Government.

Appointment

• PM → Appointed by President.
• Ministers → Appointed by President on advice of PM.

3. Collective Responsibility (Article 75)

• Council of Ministers collectively responsible to Parliament.
• Particularly responsible to Lok Sabha.
• Lok Sabha can remove ministry through: No Confidence Motion

4. Political Homogeneity

Single Party Government

• Ministers belong to same party.
• Same ideology.

Coalition Government

• Bound by consensus.

5. Double Membership

• Ministers are members of: Legislature & Executive

A person who is not a Member of Parliament must become a member within 6 months, otherwise he ceases to be a minister.

6. Secrecy

• Ministers maintain secrecy regarding: Policies, Proceedings & Decisions
• They take: Oath of Secrecy administered by President.

Features of Presidential Government

1. Single Executive

President acts as: Head of State & Head of Government

2. Election and Tenure

• Elected by Electoral College.
• Fixed tenure of 4 years.
• Removal only through: Impeachment.

3. Non-responsibility

• President is not responsible to Congress.
• Secretaries are also not responsible to Congress.

4. Cabinet

• Advisory body.
• Appointed by President.
• Responsible only to President.
• Can be removed by President.

5. Separation of Powers

• President and secretaries are not members of Congress.
• Complete separation between: Executive and Legislature.

Parliamentary System vs Presidential System

Basis	Parliamentary System	Presidential System
Executive	Dual Executive	Single Executive
Election	Majority party forms government	President elected separately
Responsibility	Responsible to Legislature	Not responsible
Political Homogeneity	Exists	May not exist
Membership	Double Membership	Single Membership
Dominance	Prime Minister	President
Lower House	Can be dissolved	Cannot be dissolved
Relation between organs	Fusion of Powers	Separation of Powers

Merits of Parliamentary System

1. Harmony between Legislature and Executive

• Cooperation and coordination.
• Less conflict.

2. Responsible Government

Parliament controls executive through:

• Question Hour
• Discussions
• Adjournment Motion
• No-confidence Motion

3. Prevents Despotism

• Power vested in Council of Ministers.
• Government can be removed by Parliament.

4. Ready Alternative Government

• Opposition can form government if ruling party loses majority.
• Opposition leader acts as alternative PM.

5. Wide Representation

• Different sections and regions represented.

Demerits of Parliamentary System

1. Unstable Government

Due to:

• No-confidence motion
• Political defections
• Coalition breakdown

2. No Continuity of Policies

• Change in ruling party → Change in policies.
• Difficult to implement long-term plans.

3. Dictatorship of Cabinet

• Absolute majority may lead to authoritarian tendencies.

H.J. Laski: Parliamentary system gives executive an opportunity for tyranny.

4. Against Separation of Powers

• Executive and Legislature are fused together.

5. Government by Amateurs

• PM's choice limited to MPs.
• Outside experts generally cannot be appointed.

Merits of Presidential System

Merits
Stable government
Definite policies
Based on separation of powers
Government by experts

Demerits of Presidential System

Demerits
Conflict between executive and legislature
Non-responsible government
May lead to autocracy
Narrow representation

Reasons for Adopting Parliamentary System in India

1. Familiarity with the System

• Worked during British rule.
• Constitutional traditions had become parliamentary.

K.M. Munshi - "Why should we go back and buy a novel experience?"

2. Preference for Responsibility over Stability

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

British System	American System
More Responsibility	More Stability
Less Stability	Less Responsibility

India preferred: Responsibility over Stability

3. Avoid Legislative-Executive Conflict

• Presidential system often produces conflicts.
• Parliamentary system ensures cooperation.

4. Nature of Indian Society

• India is: Heterogeneous, Pluralistic & Diverse
• Parliamentary system provides: Wider representation to various sections and regions.

Distinction Between Indian and British Models

Basis	India	Britain
Nature of State	Republic	Monarchy
Head of State	Elected President	Hereditary King/Queen
Sovereignty	Constitution Supreme	Parliament Supreme
PM Membership	Any House of Parliament	House of Commons only
Minister Appointment	Non-MP can be minister for 6 months	Usually MPs only
Legal Responsibility	Not present	Present
Shadow Cabinet	Absent	Present

Shadow Cabinet (Britain)

• Formed by Opposition Party.

Functions

• Balances ruling cabinet.
• Prepares members for future ministerial positions.

India - No Shadow Cabinet.

UPSC Revision Box 

Parliamentary System

1. Dual Executive.
2. Majority Party Rule.
3. Collective Responsibility.
4. Political Homogeneity.
5. Double Membership.
6. Leadership of PM.
7. Dissolution of Lower House.
8. Fusion of Powers.

Presidential System

1. Single Executive.
2. Fixed Tenure.
3. Non-responsibility.
4. Single Membership.
5. Dominance of President.
6. No Dissolution of Lower House.
7. Separation of Powers.

Mnemonic for Parliamentary Features

"DMCP-DLFS"

D – Dual Executive
M – Majority Party Rule
C – Collective Responsibility
P – Political Homogeneity
D – Double Membership
L – Leadership of Prime Minister
F – Fusion of Powers
S – Separation absent (Lower House can be dissolved)