Parliamentary System
- Article 74, 75 says Parliamentary system at Centre
- Article 163, 164 says Parliamentary system at States
- In Parliamentary system Executive is Responsible to Legislature whereas in Presidential form Executive is Non responsible to Legislature
- Ivor Jennings says “Parliamentary system is Cabinet System”
- Indian Parliament is “West-minister Model”
- Prime Minister is de-facto
- President is de-jury
Features of Parliamentary Government
- Nominal and Real Executive
- President is de-jury or Nominal executive or Head of State
- PM is de-facto or Real executive or Head of Government
- Majority Party Rule
- Collective Responsibility
- Political Homogeneity
- Double Membership
- Leadership of PM
- Dissolution of Lower House
- Secrecy
Features of Presidential Government
- President is both Head of Government and Head of State
- President is elected by electoral college for 4 years
- President can have Kitchen Cabinet (non-elected) for advise
- Not responsible for congress
- Can’t dissolve the House of Representative
- Doctrine of Separation of Power is basis of American Presidential Government
Merits of Parliamentary Government
- Harmony between Legislature and Executive
- Responsible Government
- Prevents Despotism
- Ready Alternative Government
- Wide Representation of all sections and regions
Demerits of Parliamentary Government
- Unstable Government
- No Continuity of Policies
- Dictatorship of Cabinet
- Against separation of Powers
- PM have restricted choice of Ministers
Reasons for Adopting Parliamentary System
- Familiarity with the system
- Preference to more responsibility
- Need to avoid Legislative-Executive conflict
- Nature of Indian Society