A
parliamentary system of government is a government that derives its legitimacy
from the legislature to whom it is accountable to. The head of a parliamentary
government is referred to as the head of government whereas in a presidential
system of government the head of government is also head of state. Countries
that have a parliamentary system may be constitutional monarchies whereby the
monarch is the ceremonial head of state.
Characteristics of the parliamentary
forms of government:
1.Dual executive: In this form
there are two executive. One is real executive and the other is nominal
executive. Real executive is the head of the government as prime minister and
nominal executive is the head of the state as king/queen/president.
2.Collective responsibility: The
cabinet is collectively responsible to the legislature. If any decision is
taken by the cabinet every minister are bound to support it.
3.Individual responsibility: In
this form every minister are individually responsible in the parliament for
their own department. Every minister have to face question if he/she fails to
control his/her department.
4.Close relationship between the
executive and legislature: In this form there exist close relationship
between executive and legislature.
5.Political homogeneity: In this
form all the members of the cabinet belongs to same political party thus it
maintains political homogeneity.
6.Leadership of the prime minister:
Here, the prime minister is the leader of the government. The leader of the
majority party is appointed as prime minister. Thus prime minister has all
control over cabinet.
