Comparative analysis of parliamentary and presidential forms of government:
1. Comparison on the basis of executive:
In parliamentary governance, the executive has dual form. It has two Heads – the first is called President who is the head of state, and the second is Head of government. President in India and King / Queen of Britain are merely nominal heads, and Prime Minister and council of ministers are the real executive. Contrary to it, in presidential government, the head of state is also the head of government. The power of the executive is embedded in one person (President). United States of America is the best example of presidential form of governance.
2. Comparison on the basis of tenure :
In parliamentary government, the time period of real executive (council of ministers) is not definite (fixed). At any time the legislature, by passing no-confidence motion, can remove the executive, whereas the tenure of presidential executive is fixed by the constitution. In this situation, it is difficult to unseat the executive (president) before time.
3. Comparison on the basis of responsibility:
In parliamentary governance, real executive (the council of ministers) is collectively responsible towards the legislature. Contrary to it, in presidential government, the executive is not responsible towards the legislature nor does it need the confidence of legislature for the performance of its functions.
4. Comparison on the basis of relation between executive and legislature:
In parliamentary government, a close relation exists between the executive and the legislature. The council of ministers is responsible towards the legislature. Presidential government is dependent upon the principle of separation of powers. In it, the formation of the executive is done in free from the legislature. The executive (president and his secretaries) and the legislature are mutually separated. The members of the executive are not the members of the legislature. The legislature does not have any control over the executive.
5. Comparison on the basis of powers of governance:
The basis of parliamentary government is the overlapping of powers. In this system, the executive and the legislature work together in harmony, whereas the basis of presidential government is the principle of separation of powers. In this, all the three parts of government function freely and independently of one another.
6. Comparison on the basis of status of ministers:
In parliamentary government, the status of ministers is of high level. They are ‘all in all’ in their portfolios and play vital role in the work of formation of rules, but in presidential government, there are no ministers, instead, there are secretaries, and they work under the president.
7. Comparison on the basis of party position in government:
In parliamentary government, whichever political party has majority in the legislature forms government, but in the absence of majority of a political party, like – minded political parties come together to form the cabinet. On the other hand, in presidential form of government, the president can appoint any capable person on the post of secretary without party consideration.
8. Comparison on the basis of change:
In parliamentary government, changes in government can be done as per the need of time. In emergency time, this mechanism is very useful. Presidential government is rigid, and here, changes cannot be done as per need of time. In it, the tenure of the president is definite.
