L11 - Executive & Legislative Relations

Question 1

What are the main characteristics of Parliamentary systems:

Answer 1

• Head of Government and the Cabinet are dependent on confidence of parliament; they can be dismissed from office at any time
• Head of Government is elected or appointed by the parliament
• The executive is collegial, consisting of the Prime Minister (chancellor, minister- president etc.) and the Cabinet (ministers)

(mostly European countries)

Citizen - elect - legislature - select - Executive

Question 2

What are the main characteristics of Presidential Systems:

Answer 2

• Head of Government (and the State) is independent of legislature and cannot be dismissed from office; H of G (the President) enjoys a fixed term of office.
• Head of Government is elected directly by the people
• The executive is steered by one person; members of the executive are subordinate and serving as advisors

(The US and most of Latin America)

Executive & Legislature - elected by Citizens

Question 3

What are important qualifications for Parliamentary Systems ?

Answer 3

The head of State & head of Government:
- European democracies are either
- Works next to the Prime Minister

In practice, most monarchs and presidents do NOT differ that much; they perform mainly ceremonial functions, including:
- Symbolic (most common); personal embodiment.
- Procedural; important role in the democratic process (e.g. the opening of a parliamentary session).
- Diplomatic (most important); state visits.

Question 4

What are important qualifications for Presidential Systems

Answer 4

Removal of president: Presidents have fixed-terms, HOWEVER, there is one procedure (impeachment) that can result in the removal of a president (e.g. 1998 impeachment of US President Bill Clinton).

Different powers of president: NOT all systems are exactly the same; there is often a significant difference in the definition of their powers (weak vs. strong presidentialism) in overall legislative, reactive and proactive powers.

Question 5

Semi-Presidential Systems (ex: France)

Answer 5

• Head of the State: Directly elected president
• Prime Minister & Cabinet: answerable to the legislature

-Dual executive: Both the President and the Priminster have to cooperate to run the government (a division of competency).