DISCUSS UNITARY, PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY FORMS OF GOVERNMENT,

THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND DIFFERENCES.

1. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT:
A constitution can be either unitary or federal, presidential or parliamentary in
nature.
2. UNITARY SYSTEM
A unitary system is governed constitutionally as one single unit, with one
constitutionally created legislature.
In a unitary government, all the powers of government are vested in the central
government.
3. FEDERAL SYSTEM
In the federal constitution, there is a division of powers between the federal and
the state governments.
In a federal government, the powers of government are divided between the
centre and the units.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNITARY GOVERNMENT

The system has multiple hierarchy levels, with

both the central authority and the states (or There is no hierarchy of sovereign powers.
provinces) both being sovereign.

States have no authority to pass their own laws,

The central or national rules override the state
and the central or national government can
rules.
order the states to do anything.

The federal government has a huge percentage

There is a balance between the levels of
of power. Examples include Japan and Saudi
government.
Arabia.

Power and responsibilities are shared between

Power is placed in one central governing system
national and local levels.

Here are some differences between the federal government and the unitary
government.
A representative democracy can be divided into Parliamentary and Presidential
democracy.
4. PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM:
A presidential system, also known as a single executive system, is a form of
government in which the president heads an executive branch that is
independent of the legislative branch.
5. FEATURES OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM:
A. President does not have nominal powers. He is both the head of the
executive and the head of the state. As the head of the executive, he has a
ceremonial position. As the head of the government, he acts as the chief real
executive. Thus, the Presidential system is characterized by a single executive
concept.
 B. A presidential system is a form of government in which the President serves
as the Chief Executive and is chosen by the people directly.
C. As a result, the executive branch of government is distinct from the
legislative branch. It is a type of government in which the three branches
(legislature, executive, and judiciary) operate independently and are unable
to dismiss or dissolve one another. While the legislative creates the laws, the
President is responsible for enforcing them, and the courts are in charge of
carrying out judicial tasks.
D. The President cannot be removed, except through an impeachment
procedure for a grave unconstitutional act.
E. The President governs with the help of a small body of people. This is his
cabinet. The cabinet is only an advisory body which consists of non-elected
departmental secretaries, who are selected by the president. It is responsible
to the President, and the departmental secretaries can be removed by him.
F. The President and his cabinet are not answerable to the legislature, nor are
they members of the legislature.
G. The concept of Separation of powers is clearly visible in the Presidential
system. The three branches are completely separated and members of one
branch cannot be the members of the other branch.
H. The President can veto the acts of the legislature. He/She can also grant
pardon.
6. MERITS OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
The advantages of the presidential system are given below:
A. SEPARATION OF POWERS:
Efficiency of administration is greatly enhanced since the three arms of the
government are independent of each other.
B. EXPERT GOVERNMENT:
Since the executive need not be legislators, the President can choose experts in
various fields to head relevant departments or ministries. This will make sure
that people who are capable and knowledgeable form part of the government.
C. STABILITY:
This type of government is stable. Since the term of the president is fixed and
not subject to majority support in the legislative, he need not worry about losing
the government. There is no danger of a sudden fall of the government. There is
no political pressure on the president to make decisions.
D. LESS INFLUENCE OF THE PARTY SYSTEM:
Political parties do not attempt to dislodge the government since the tenure is
fixed.
7. DEMERITS OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
The disadvantages of the presidential system are given below:
A. LESS RESPONSIBLE EXECUTIVE:
Since the legislature has no hold over the executive and the president, the head
of the government can turn authoritarian.
B. DEADLOCKS BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE:
Since there is a more strict separation of powers here, there can be frequent
tussles between both arms of the government, especially if the legislature is not
dominated by the president’s political party. This can lead to an erosion in
efficiency because of wastage of time.
 C. RIGID GOVERNMENT:
Presidential systems are often accused of being rigid. It lacks flexibility.
D. SPOILS SYSTEM:
The system gives the president sweeping powers of patronage. Here, he can
choose executives as per his will. This gives rise to the spoils system where
people close to the president (relatives, business associates, etc.) get roles in the
government.
8. PARLIAMNTARY SYSTEM:
Parliamentary democracy, is a form of democratic administration in which the
executive gains political legitimacy by commanding the support of the legislative,
usually a parliament, to whom it is accountable.
9. FEATURES OF THE PARLIAMENTARY FORM OF GOVERNMENT:
A. A Parliamentary form of democracy is also known as the Cabinet form of
government or the ‘Responsible Government’.
B. It is a form of government in which residents elect members to the legislative
legislature.
C. This Parliament is in charge of making state-wide decisions and legislation.
D. It is also directly accountable to the general public.
E. The head of state and the head of government are different under the
Parliamentary form of government. The head of the state is usually the
President or monarch. He/she has only ceremonial powers. The head of the
government is generally the Prime Minister and he/she is vested with real
power.
F. It can be either bicameral (with two houses) or unicameral (with one house).
A bicameral system usually consists of a directly elected lower house, which
in turn elects the upper house.
G. The powers of government are not completely separated. The lines between
the legislature and the executive are blurred as executive forms part of the
legislature.
H. This system is also characterised with the majority party rule. But no
government can be a hundred percent majority, and the Parliament also
consists of the opposition.
I. The council of ministers, in this system, are collectively responsible to the
Parliament. The lower house of Parliament can even dismiss the ruling
government by passing a no confidence motion in the house.
J. Most of the time, in this form of government the cabinet proceedings are
kept secret and are not meant to be divulged to the public.
10. MERITS OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
The advantages of the presidential system are given below:
A. SEPARATION OF POWERS:
Efficiency of administration is greatly enhanced since the three arms of the
government are independent of each other.
B. EXPERT GOVERNMENT:
Since the executive need not be legislators, the President can choose experts
in various fields to head relevant departments or ministries. This will make
sure that people who are capable and knowledgeable form part of the
government.
C. STABILITY:
 This type of government is stable. Since the term of the president is fixed and
not subject to majority support in the legislative, he need not worry about
losing the government. There is no danger of a sudden fall of the
government. There is no political pressure on the president to make
decisions.
D. LESS INFLUENCE OF THE PARTY SYSTEM:
Political parties do not attempt to dislodge the government since the tenure
is fixed.
11. DEMERITS OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
The disadvantages of the presidential system are given below:
A. LESS RESPONSIBLE EXECUTIVE:
Since the legislature has no hold over the executive and the president, the
head of the government can turn authoritarian.
B. DEADLOCKS BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE:
Since there is a more strict separation of powers here, there can be frequent
tussles between both arms of the government, especially if the legislature is
not dominated by the president’s political party. This can lead to an erosion
in efficiency because of wastage of time.
C. RIGID GOVERNMENT:
Presidential systems are often accused of being rigid. It lacks flexibility.
D. SPOILS SYSTEM:
The system gives the president sweeping powers of patronage. Here, he can
choose executives as per his will. This gives rise to the spoils system where
people close to the president (relatives, business associates, etc.) get roles in
the government.

Basis Parliamentary Form of Government Presidential Form of Government

Form of governance in which the executive,

Type of governance in which the legislative and
judiciary, and legislature all act
the executive branch are intimately correlated.
Meaning independently of one another. The President
It is a form of government in which citizens
serves as the chief executive and is directly
elect representatives to the legislative body.
chosen by the people.

Dual executive as leader of the state and leader Single executive as the head of the state and
Executive
of the government are different. the head of the government is the same.

Belong to the ruling party and are Members of

Can be chosen from outside the legislature,
Ministers Parliament. Generally, no outsider is allowed to
and are usually industry experts.
become a minister.

Accountability Executive accountable to Legislature Executive not accountable to Legislature

Dissolution of the lower The Prime Minister is able to dissolve the lower The President cannot dissolve the lower
house house. house.

Prime Minister’s tenure depends upon majority

Tenure Fixed tenure for President.
support in the Parliament. Thus, it is not fixed.
 The principle of Separation of powers is
Separation of Powers No clear-cut separation of power.
strictly followed.

Party Discipline Stronger party discipline Party discipline is comparatively less

Autocracy Less autocratic More autocratic.