In the name of Allah Almighty, the most gracious, the most merciful.

Dear fellows and respected Sir, Assllam-o-Alikum.. Good morning to all of you.
My name is Muhammad Zaman. Today, my topic of discussion is comparative study of
parliamentary and presidential systems. I am thankful to Sir Javed Ali, who provided me with
such an opportunity to express my views.

Comparative study of presidential and

parliamentary system
Actually, I want to tell you that the presidential and parliamentary system are two kinds of
government. The governments are divided through different aspects. If we divide the
government on the behalf of separation of powers between its three branches, legislature,
executive and judiciary . We can see two forms of government, presidential and
parliamentary systems.
If the executive is part of the legislature and accountable to it The system will be
parliamentary.

On the other hand, if the head of the executive is also the head of the state the form of
government will be presidential. In the system, the executive will be not part of the legislature
nor answerable to the legislature.

Parliamentary system

In the parliamentary system of government, the executive is part of the legislature and also
answerable to the legislature. The head of the government and the head of the state are two
different persons; the head of the government is usually called prime minister. He runs the
governmental system with the help of his cabinet. The Prime minister chooses his cabinet
from Parliament.
The prime minister will remain in office until he has representation in parliament. If he loses
the majority in parliament, he will also lose his government.
In the parliamentary system, the head of the state is called president and somewhere
monarch. He has usually formal powers like you take oaths, attend ceremonies, etc.
Examples: United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, etc.

Presidential system
It is a form of government where the executive branch of government is separate from the
legislative branch.
In the system, the head of the state and head of the government is the same person. He
holds the supreme authority and he is not answerable to the legislature. The President can
choose his cabinet from outside the legislature.
 Because of, the electoral college elects the president. Therefore the president is not a part of
the legislature, nor answerable to it. The President has been chosen by a specific tim e
period, usually four or five years and no one can remove him from Office.

Examples: USA, Afghanistan, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, etc.

Historical backgrounds of parliamentary

system
The parliamentary system has its roots in England. It evolved over time through a series of
historical events, including the Magna Carta, it was a charter of human rights, which was
presented in 1215, that limited the powers of the king .
However, the system truly began to take shape during the English Civil War (1642-1651),
this war was fought between two groups, parliamentarians, and Royalists, the
parliamentarians, were puritans and middle class merchants. And royalists were those who
were loyal to the King.
Parliamentarians and Royalists fought over the balance of power between the monarchy
and parliament. After the victory of parliamentarians, they limited the rights of monarchs. And
establish a parliamentary system.

Historical background of presidential system

The presidential system was started in the governance of British colonies in the 17th century
(now USA.) The Plymouth colony established a system that utilised an independent
executive branch. Each year a governor was chosen by the colonial legislature.
But the first true presidential system was developed in 1787 in the constitution of United
States. The founders of the constitution, where inspired by the principle separation of powers
Thus they created a system where executive powers were vested in a president who is
elected by separately from the legislature.

Characteristics of the Parlimentary system

1. Fusion of Powers: there is a clear separation of powers between the executive and
legislative branches, in a parliamentary system, there's often a fusion of powers
2. Prime Minister: The head of government in a parliamentary system is usually the
Prime Minister, who is the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Parliament.
The Prime Minister is responsible for implementing laws, policies, and running the
day-to-day affairs of the government.
3. Cabinet: The Prime Minister chooses a cabinet to run the system of government
from parliament . These ministers are responsible for specific government
departments or ministries.
4. Role of the Parliament: The Parliament plays a crucial role in a parliamentary
system. It is responsible for making laws, scrutinizing the government's actions and
policies, and representing the interests of the citizens.
5. Vote of Confidence : The government's legitimacy is dependent on maintaining the
support of the majority in the Parliament. The Prime Minister and the government
can be removed from office if they lose a vote of confidence or if they fail to pass key
legislation.
6. No Fixed Term: Unlike presidential systems where the head of state and
government serves a fixed term, the tenure of the government in a parliamentary
system is not fixed. The government remains in power as long as it enjoys the
confidence of the Parliament.
7. Accountability : Ministers are accountable to the Parliament for their actions and
decisions. They are required to regularly answer questions, participate in debates,
and justify their policies and expenditures.
8. Role of the Monarch or President: In parliamentary monarchies, the monarch has a
ceremonial role and acts as a symbol of the state, while the Prime Minister holds the
real executive power. In parliamentary republics, a president may exist, but their
powers are often limited compared to those in presidential systems.

Characteristics of Presidential system

1. Quick Decision-Making: With the executive branch closely connected to the legislative
branch, decisions can be made swiftly without lengthy approval processes, enabling faster
responses to issues and crises.
2. Direct Accountability : The government is accountable to the parliament, which means if
they don't perform well, they can be easily replaced through votes of no confidence, ensuring
leaders stay responsive to the people's needs.
3. Consensus Building: Different parties often need to work together to form a government,
promoting cooperation and compromise, which can lead to more inclusive policies that
represent a variety of viewpoints.
4. Flexibility: It's easier to adapt to changing circumstances because governments can be
reshuffled or replaced without the need for major constitutional changes or elections,
ensuring a more agile response to challenges.
5. Stability: While still being accountable, parliamentary systems usually provide more stability
compared to presidential systems, as there's less likelihood of prolonged gridlock between
branches of government.

Advantages of parliamentary system

1. Accountability : In a parliamentary system, the executive (Prime Minister and
Cabinet) is directly accountable to the legislature (Parliament). If the government fails
to perform or loses the confidence of the majority in Parliament, it can be dismissed
through a vote of no confidence or by losing an election. This fosters a high level of
accountability.
2. Efficiency : Parliamentary systems often have a more streamlined decision-making
process compared to presidential systems. Since the executive and legislative
 branches are closely intertwined, it's easier to pass legislation and implement policies
without facing the gridlock that can sometimes occur in presidential systems.
3. Flexibility : Parliamentary systems tend to be more adaptable to changing
circumstances. If a government loses its majority in Parliament or faces a crisis, it can
be quickly replaced or reshuffled without the need for a complete overhaul of the
political system.
4. Consensus-building: Parliamentary systems encourage coalition-building among
different political parties. This can lead to more inclusive decision-making processes
and policies that reflect a broader range of perspectives.
5. Expertise: Members of Parliament (MPs) often have specialized knowledge and
expertise in various fields, as they are drawn from diverse professional backgrounds.
This can result in more informed debates and better policy outcomes.
6. Unity of powers: Unlike presidential systems where the executive and legislative
branches are separate, in parliamentary systems, the executive is drawn from the
legislature. This promotes a closer alignment of interests and facilitates cooperation
between the branches of government.
7. Stability: Since the government is dependent on maintaining the support of the
majority in Parliament, there is usually greater stability compared to presidential
systems, where the executive can sometimes be at odds with the legislature, leading
to deadlock or instability.
Disadvantages of parliamentary system
1. nstability : Parliamentary systems can be prone to frequent changes in government,
especially in multi-party systems where coalition governments are common. This can
lead to political uncertainty and instability, as governments may be short-lived or
constantly reshuffled.
2. Dominance of the Executive: In parliamentary systems, the executive branch (Prime
Minister and Cabinet) often wields significant power, sometimes overshadowing the
role of the legislature. This can undermine the principle of separation of powers and
lead to an imbalance of power between the executive and legislative branches.
3. Lack of Checks and Balances: Unlike presidential systems, where the executive and
legislative branches serve as checks on each other, parliamentary systems may lack
robust mechanisms for ensuring accountability and preventing the abuse of power
by the government.
4. Limited Representation : Parliamentary systems may not fully represent the diversity
of opinions within society, especially if certain parties or groups are marginalized or
underrepresented in the legislature. This can lead to a lack of inclusivity and fairness
in decision-making.
5. Partisan Gridlock: While parliamentary systems are generally more efficient than
presidential systems, they can still experience gridlock and legislative stalemates,
particularly if there is a fragmented party system or intense partisan polarization.
6. Lack of Direct Accountability : In parliamentary systems, voters do not directly elect
the head of government (Prime Minister), which can weaken the link between elected
 officials and the electorate. This may result in a perceived lack of accountability and
responsiveness to the needs and preferences of the public.
7. Potential for Authoritarianism : In some parliamentary systems, particularly those
with weak institutions or a history of political instability, there is a risk that the
government could become authoritarian or undemocratic, especially if constitutional
checks and balances are not robustly enforced.