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CISCEISC (Arts) Class 12
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Syllabus

Overview of Forms of Government: Parliamentary and Presidential Forms of Government

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CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Concept of Parliamentary Government

  • In a parliamentary government, the executive is responsible to the legislature.
  • The executive consists of a nominal head of state and a real executive.
  • The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers form the real executive.
  • The ministers are collectively responsible to Parliament.
  • This system is also known as the Westminster or Responsible Government model.
CISCE: Class 12

Definition: Parliamentary Government

  • Parliamentary government is a system in which "the real executive - the cabinet or ministry is immediately and legally responsible to the legislature or one branch of it (usually the more popular chamber) for its political policies and acts." - Dr. Garner
  • "The Parliamentary government is that system in which the cabinet is the head of executive as well as the directing power in the legislature". - Gilchrist 
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Features of Parliamentary Government

  • A clear distinction exists between the Nominal Executive (Head of State) and the Real Executive (Council of Ministers).
  • The Real Executive has a complex structure, often described as “wheels within a wheel”, with the Prime Minister at the centre.
  • There is a close and continuous relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.
  • The system is based on the principle of Ministerial Responsibility.
  • Ministerial responsibility includes responsibility to the Head of State, individual responsibility of ministers, and collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers.
  • The Prime Minister is the real head of the government and occupies a strong and powerful position in the parliamentary system.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Legislature–Executive Relations in Parliamentary Government

  • Close Relationship between Legislature and Executive:
  • Executive is formed from the legislature.
  • Ministers are also members of the legislature.
  • Responsibility of the Executive to the Legislature:
  • Ministers are individually responsible for their departments.
  • Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the legislature.
  • Continuous Legislative Control over the Executive:
  • Legislature controls executive through questions, motions, committees, and audit.
  • Financial powers of the legislature ensure accountability.
  • Mutual Checks between Legislature and Executive:
  • Legislature can remove the executive by a no-confidence motion.
  • Executive can dissolve the legislature to seek fresh elections.
  • Nature of the Parliamentary System:
  • Ensures cooperation, accountability, and coordination.
  • Followed in countries like India, UK, and Canada.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Concept of Presidential Government

  • In a presidential system, there is a clear separation of powers between the legislature and the executive.
  • The President is both the Head of State and the Head of Government.
  • The President enjoys a fixed tenure, and the executive is not responsible to the legislature.
  • Neither can the legislature remove the executive nor can the executive dissolve the legislature.
  • This system is followed in countries like USA, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, and Argentina, while France, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Switzerland follow a mixed (Presidential–Parliamentary) system.
CISCE: Class 12

Definition: Presidential Government

  • "In the Presidential System, the executive is constitutionally independent of the legislature in respect to the duration of his or of their (President and Cabinet) tenure and irresponsible to it for his or their political policies. In such a system, the chief of the state is not merely the titular executive, but he is the real executive and actually exercises the powers which the constitution and the laws confer upon him." - Garner 
  • "Presidential government is that form in which the chief executive is independent of the legislature as to his tenure and, to a large extent, as to his policies and acts. In this system the nominal head of the state is also the real executive." - Gettell 
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Features of Presidential Government

  • Single Unified Executive i.e. No Difference between Nominal Executive and the Real Executive.
  • Separation of Powers between the Legislature and the Executive.
  • Fixed Tenures of the Executive and the Legislature.
  • Responsibility of the Ministers towards the President/Head of State.
  • Political Homogeneity of the Cabinet is not essential. 
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Legislature–Executive Relations in Parliamentary Government

  • In a presidential system, the legislature and executive are separate and independent organs of government.
  • The relationship is based on the principle of separation of powers.
  • There is an incompatibility of membership, as a legislator cannot be a minister at the same time.
  • The executive is not responsible to the legislature for its policies and actions.
  • Both the legislature and the executive have fixed and stable tenures, and neither can remove the other easily.
  • A system of checks and balances exists, allowing indirect control by both organs.
  • The system ensures stability and efficiency, but it may sometimes lead to deadlocks between the legislature and the executive.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Parliamentary Government in the UK> Basic Principles and Features

  • The UK follows the Westminster Model of parliamentary government.
  • The Monarch is the nominal executive, while the Cabinet is the real executive.
  • The Cabinet system works as “wheels within a wheel”, with the Prime Minister at the centre.
  • There is a close relationship between the Cabinet and Parliament, as ministers are MPs.
  • The system is based on ministerial responsibility—individual and collective responsibility to Parliament.
  • The Prime Minister is the real head of government and holds a strong position.
  • Cabinet secrecy, political homogeneity, and the power to dissolve Parliament ensure unity and effective governance.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Presidential Government in the USA

  • The USA follows a presidential system, where the President is both Head of State and Head of Government.
  • There is a strict separation of powers between the President and Congress.
  • The President and Congress have fixed tenures, and neither can remove the other easily.
  • The President is not a member of Congress and is not responsible to it.
  • The Cabinet acts as an advisory body to the President.
  • Cabinet members are individually responsible to the President, not collectively.
  • The system works through checks and balances, ensuring independence of organs.
CISCE: Class 12

Difference Between Parliamentary Government and Presidential Government

Basis Parliamentary Government Presidential Government
Nature of Executive Dual executive: Nominal Head (Monarch/President) and Real Executive (Prime Minister & Cabinet) Single executive: President is both Head of State and Head of Government
Source of Executive Executive is drawn from the legislature Executive is independent of the legislature
Responsibility Executive is collectively and individually responsible to the legislature Executive is not responsible to the legislature
Removal of Executive Legislature can remove executive by vote of no-confidence Legislature cannot remove the President
Tenure Executive remains in power if it enjoys majority support President has a fixed tenure (e.g., 4 years in the USA)
Membership Rule Ministers are members of the legislature Ministers cannot be members of the legislature
Example UK, India USA
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