A parliamentary system has the chief executive as part of the legislature, while a presidential system separates the executive and legislative functions. In a parliamentary system, the legislature holds power and the chief executive is accountable to them. The two systems differ in their effects on efficiency and political acrimony, and in their ability to remove the chief executive from power.
The main difference between a parliamentary and a presidential system of government is that in a presidential system, the president is separate from the legislature, but in a parliamentary system, the chief executive, like a prime minister, is part of the legislature, or parliament . A presidential system separates the executive and legislative functions of government and provides what are commonly called checks and balances to limit the power of both the chief executive and the legislature. In a parliamentary system, the legislature holds power and the chief executive is accountable to the legislature. Another major difference is that in a presidential system, the chief executive officer and members of the legislature are elected separately by the people, but in a parliamentary system, the legislature is elected by the people and therefore must nominate or recommend for nomination one of his members be the CEO.
Many forms of government are used by countries around the world and very few are completely the same, even if they use the same type of system. Presidential and parliamentary systems of government can vary in specific details from one country to another, but some general aspects are generally the same in countries that have the same type of system. For example, in some parliamentary systems, the national legislative body is called a parliament and in others it might be called by a term such as “national assembly”, but they generally serve the same purposes, regardless of their names. Similarly, the specific powers or duties of presidents may vary from country to country, but generally they are all popularly elected and are separate from the legislature.
Presidential systems
In a presidential system, the president is the head of government and the head of state. As the head of government, he oversees government operations and performs certain duties, such as appointing officials and advisers to help run the government, signing or vetoing laws passed by the legislature, and establishing an annual budget. A president’s duties as head of state include such duties as making speeches, representing the country at public events, hosting or visiting diplomats from other countries, and presenting prestigious national awards.
Parliamentary systems
The roles of head of state and head of government are often filled by different people in a parliamentary system. For example, a country might have a prime minister who serves as head of government and a monarch who serves as head of state. Some countries that have a parliamentary system also have a president instead of a monarch, who serves as the head of state. A country that has both a prime minister and a president is sometimes said to have a semi-presidential system of government, although it is more closely related to a parliamentary system due to the power held by the legislature and the prime minister in that system.
Legislative efficiency
Another difference between these systems of government is the effects each system has on things like efficiency and political acrimony. In a presidential system, because the chief executive officer and members of the legislature are elected separately, it is possible for the president to belong to one political party and for the legislature to be controlled by another political party. This can cause discord at the highest levels of government and make it difficult for the executive and legislators to achieve their respective goals. In a parliamentary system, the prime minister is almost always of the political party that controls the legislature, so there is less discord and it is easier for that party to achieve its goals.
Removal of a managing director
Parliamentary and presidential systems also differ in their ability to remove the chief executive from power. In a parliamentary system, it is much easier for the legislature to remove the prime minister. Even a disagreement in policy or a lack of effective leadership could be reason enough for this to happen. A president is more difficult to remove from the position than he is, and it is usually only possible in extreme cases, such as when the leader is accused of a serious crime.
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