The Executive Branch: Elected By The People's Representatives

Democracies elect their leaders through either a presidential, parliamentary, or semi-presidential system. In a parliamentary system, the executive is elected by the legislature, where the majority party or coalition selects the prime minister. Citizens vote in elections to choose representatives for the legislature, and the party with the most members chooses the prime minister. The prime minister is not directly elected by the citizens but is chosen from among the elected members of the legislature. This integration between the legislative and executive branches allows for a closer relationship and often leads to smoother governance, as the executive must maintain the confidence of the majority in the legislature to remain in office.

Explore related products

Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought)

$35

Disobedience and Democracy: Nine Fallacies on Law and Order

$18 $18

Democracy – The God That Failed: The Economics and Politics of Monarchy, Democracy and Natural Order (Perspectives on Democratic Practice)

$33.21 $64.99

PARTOCRACY: A Participants Guide to Parliamentary Democracy

$19.99 $19.99

A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: A policy review of Democracy Without Borders

$18

The Civic Bargain: How Democracy Survives

$16.59 $29.95

Citizens elect the legislative branch

In a parliamentary democracy, the legislative function is conducted through a unicameral (one-chamber) or bicameral (two-chamber) parliament composed of members accountable to the people they represent. The members of parliament may hold their positions during an established period between regularly scheduled elections. However, they can be removed from office at any time if the government loses the support of the majority of the legislative body.

There are two types of parliamentary democracies: the Westminster system and the Consensus system. The Westminster system is usually found in the Commonwealth of Nations and countries influenced by British political traditions, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Malaysia. These parliaments tend to have a more adversarial style of debate, and members are elected using a plurality voting system (first-past-the-post). On the other hand, countries like Ireland and New Zealand use some form of proportional representation.

In a few parliamentary democracies, such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, laws prohibit floor-crossing or switching parties after the election. Elected representatives who go against their party in votes will lose their seats in parliament. However, in the United Kingdom, members are free to switch to a different party, and there are no restraints on legislators changing sides in Canada and Australia.

Parliamentary democracy is the dominant form of government in the European Union, Oceania, and throughout the former British Empire, with other users scattered throughout Africa and Asia. Most democracies today use the parliamentary system, which is characterized by the supremacy of the legislative branch within the three functions of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.

The legislative branch elects the Prime Minister

In a parliamentary democracy, the legislative branch elects the Prime Minister. This is in contrast to a presidential system, where citizen voters choose the chief executive or president. In a presidential system, the president can also veto laws passed by the legislative branch, which requires a supermajority to override. The presidential system is common in the United States and most Latin American countries.

In a parliamentary system, citizens elect the members of the legislative branch, which then chooses the chief executive or Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority party or the leader of one of the parties in the ruling coalition. The legislative function is conducted through a unicameral or bicameral parliament composed of members accountable to the people they represent. The executive function is primarily carried out by the Prime Minister and the ministers of various government departments.

Parliamentary democracies are directly and immediately responsive to popular influence through the electoral process. Members of parliament hold their positions during established periods between regularly scheduled elections. However, they can be removed from office if they lose the support of the majority of the legislative body. If the Prime Minister and their cabinet suffer a "no confidence" vote in parliament, it is dissolved, and new elections are held to establish a new parliament, which then selects a new Prime Minister.

Parliamentary systems may be constitutional monarchies, where a monarch is the head of state, or parliamentary republics, where a mostly ceremonial president holds this position. In some cases, the head of government is also the head of state but is elected by the legislature. Parliamentary systems are the dominant form of government in the European Union, Oceania, and throughout the former British Empire, with other examples in Africa and Asia.

The Prime Minister is the head of the executive branch

In a parliamentary democracy, the Prime Minister is the head of the executive branch. The executive branch is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by the legislative branch. In this system, citizens elect the members of the legislative branch, which is usually called a parliament. The parliament, in turn, chooses the Prime Minister, who is usually the leader of the majority party.

The role of the Prime Minister as the head of the executive branch varies across different parliamentary democracies. In some countries, the Prime Minister is the most senior member of the cabinet and has the power to select and dismiss other members of the cabinet. They are also often the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet. Additionally, the Prime Minister may hold other roles or posts, such as being the First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service, as seen in the United Kingdom.

In some parliamentary democracies, the head of state is a ceremonial figure, such as a monarch or president, who may exercise limited executive powers. For example, in a constitutional monarchy like the United Kingdom, the monarch can exercise executive powers without the approval of parliament. In other cases, the head of state has significant influence over foreign policy, as seen in Lithuania, where the president has powers regarding national defence, military command, and international relations.

It is important to note that the relationship between the head of state and the head of government can vary greatly among parliamentary democracies. In some cases, the Prime Minister is the dominant figure in the executive branch, while in others, they may answer to the head of state or the legislature, depending on the specific constitution of the country.

The parliamentary system, with the Prime Minister as the head of the executive branch, is the dominant form of government in the European Union, Oceania, and throughout the former British Empire, as well as in scattered countries across Africa and Asia.

Explore related products

The Governance Cycle in Parliamentary Democracies (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

$29.1 $37

Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy

$11.89 $23

The Deliberative Turn in Democratic Theory: Models, Methods, Misconceptions (The Theories, Concepts and Practices of Democracy)

$141.73 $159.99

Elites and Democracy

$35 $35

Breakthrough 2.0: Singaporeans Push For Parliamentary Democracy

$43.71 $48

Parliamentary Opposition in Old and New Democracies (Library of Legislative Studies)

$58.89 $61.99

The Prime Minister is accountable to the parliament

In a parliamentary democracy, the Prime Minister is accountable to the parliament. This is true in the case of both the Westminster and Consensus systems. The Westminster system is usually found in the Commonwealth of Nations and countries influenced by British political traditions, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Malaysia. On the other hand, Consensus systems are found in countries like Ireland and New Zealand.

The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the majority party in the parliament or the leader of the coalition of parties that make up the majority. In a multi-party system, the Prime Minister needs the support of several political parties. If one party decides to withdraw support, new elections may be called.

Prime ministers are expected to explain government decisions to the public and to parliament, as well as to represent their countries internationally. They lead and manage the operation of the cabinet and coordinate government decision-making. The nature of government in parliamentary democracies is collective, and prime ministers are collectively responsible with their cabinets. However, they are expected to account for their own actions and speak for the government.

There are various mechanisms in place to hold prime ministers accountable to the parliament. One such mechanism is questioning, which can be either individual or collective. For example, the UK House of Commons provides a high-profile weekly session for questioning the head of government at Prime Minister's Questions. In Australia and Canada, the collective Question Time is convened every sitting day, and prime ministers usually attend several times a week. In Sweden, Question Time takes place weekly, and the prime minister attends once a month.

The Prime Minister must maintain the confidence of the parliamentary majority

In a parliamentary democracy, the executive branch is headed by a Prime Minister. This is in contrast to a presidential system, where the president is often both the head of state and the head of government. In a parliamentary system, the head of state is usually distinct from the Prime Minister, who leads the executive branch. The Prime Minister is accountable to the parliament and the electorate.

The Prime Minister is responsible for running the government, overseeing the administration and functions of the government, and implementing laws. They propose new laws and policies and ensure that the laws passed by parliament are effectively enforced and implemented across the country. The role of the Prime Minister includes setting government policy and making decisions on domestic and international issues.

The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the majority party in parliament and is appointed by the head of state, such as a monarch or president, depending on the country's structure. In a few countries, the head of government is also the head of state but is elected by the legislature. The Prime Minister is not directly elected by the citizens but is chosen from among the elected members of the legislature. The majority party or coalition of parties that make up a majority of the parliament's membership selects the Prime Minister and department ministers.

The Prime Minister must maintain the support and confidence of the majority in parliament. If they lose this support, they may be forced to resign or call for new elections. This is known as a "no confidence" vote, and it can lead to the dissolution of the government and the selection of a new prime minister and cabinet of executive ministers by the newly elected members of parliament. This process allows for a closer relationship between the legislative and executive branches compared to a presidential system.

Frequently asked questions