9: Presidential and Parliamentary systems Flashcards
Destroy all Perils of Presidentialism
What is the dilemma of governance?
To keep things democratic: Dispersed power
To get things done: Concentrated power
What are the main points of difference between parliamentary vs presidential system for Lijphart (1999)?
Head of government
👤 president (impeachment)
👥 prime minister (vote of no confidence)
(S)election
👤 popularly elected
👥 selected by legislature
Executive power
👤 one person, noncollegial
👥 collective/collegial
Other differences between parliamentary and presidential systems in Lijphart (1999) that are not core because there is more deviation:
- separation of power in presidential system: independence of legislature and executive since one person cannot serve as both
- presidents cannot dissolve legislature
- dual executives: symbolic head of state and a prime minister
Who wrote a new political system: Semi-presidential government and when?
Duvenger, 1980
What are the Perils of Presidentialism according to Linz (1990)?
- fixed terms
- winner-takes-all
- separation of powers
- lack of accountability
- more prone to coups
What are the virtues of parliamentarism, as Linz (1990) described them?
parliamentarism strengthens parties and makes them more responsible
How did Presidentialism and Parliantarism evolved historically?
Presidential systems are much older:
- Fear of “tyranny of majority” and minority oppression (Mill
1859)
- Solutions: Constitutional limits on and separation of powers
- Result: A transactional executive-legislative relation
- Distinct branches with separate agency that are not
hierarchical and compete with each other
- To avoid demagogues and curve ambition
- Exemplified by founders of US constitution (Federalist Papers)
Parliamentary systems were developed later:
- Implemented to counter gridlock that often came with
presidentialism
- The English Constitution (Bagehot 1867)
What are important characteristics of Presidential systems?
- Executive and legislature elected independently
- Fixed term in office for directly elected president
- Combination of formal responsibilities (head of state) and political power (head of government)
- Legislation is typically initiated by (party of the) president
What are important characteristics of Parliamentary systems?
- Ceremonial head of state (Republic vs. monarchy); prime
minister as head of government- Presidents are elected, prime ministers selected
- Head of government can be replaced by parliamentary vote
- Executive branch is organically linked to legislative branch
- Government emerges from (Lijphart 1984: 68) or is appointed
by (Sartori 1997: 101) parliament - Fusion of power between branches (no competition)
- Government emerges from (Lijphart 1984: 68) or is appointed
- Executive is accountable to parliament
- Regular scrutiny: Critical, public investigation and debate
- Executive can be voted out
What are Merits of presidential systems?
- Bargaining in public domain, rather than behind closed doors
- Less “invisible politics” (Sartori 1976)
- Built for safety, not speed
- More effective guard against errors by ignorance, haste, passion
- More outsiders as cabinet members can bring fresh perspective
What are Downsides of presidential systems?
- Slow and cumbersome (cf. “invitation to struggle”)
- Unless in perfect sync, near guarantee for gridlock
- Outsider cabinet members can prove challenging
What are Merits of Parliamentary systems?
- Swift decision-making and concentration of responsibility
- Gridlock is reduced since majority is typically the same in both
- Policy efficiency b/c fewer institutional checks and constraints
- More effective in following will of the people
- Executive can be speedily ousted when need be
- More experience and knowledge in executive
What are Downsides of parliamentary systems?
- Excessive partisanship
- Increased predictability
- Often erratic policy-making due to short-term accountability
- Lack of transparency
- Increased chance of weak and irrelevant legislatures
- Immobilism (cf. cartel parties, Katz and Mair (1995))
- Presidentialisation of prime ministers
What are Paradoxes of presidentialism?
- Powerful office vs. inherent suspicion of centralised leadership
- ‘Common person’ vs. charismatic visionary
- Caring and compassionate vs. ruthless and manipulative
- Surpassing politics vs. master politician
- Unifying force vs. willingness to be unpopular, controversial
- Lead vs. follow
- What is needed to get elected vs. what is needed to govern
What is a dual executive?
Head of state and government share executive
power
> Commonly, president engages in foreign policy, cabinet in
domestic and constitutional matters
