Presidential System
What we have in the US

Our Founders were suspicious of government power so sought to divide it through institutional design of “the Three Branches”

What are the Three Branches in the U.S. system??
 Executive, Legislative, Judiciary

Which one does the president head???
 The Executive (consists of federal agencies, the Cabinet and the President)
 

How does this differ from a parliamentary system???
 In a parliamentary system, Executive and Legislative power are fused in the persona of the Prime Minister (also called the Premier, First Minister, or Chancellor in other countries).

 What do I mean – “fused”?
 i.e. the PM is the head of the Parliament (i.e. the legislative branch) to which she/he has stood for election and the head of the Executive Branch.  Together with the other ministers in the Cabinet or council, they are the Government (with a capital G).

 How is PM selected?
 elected by lower house in Parliament (i.e. majority party leader usually wins)

 How can PM/Government lose office?
 by losing an election (which it calls/sets the timing of) or by a vote of no-confidence

What are the advantages of a Parliamentary system?
 government accountability
 efficiency, easier to make major policy changes
 greater party cohesion, discipline

The disadvantages?
 swings in policy when government changes hands
 high rates of government turnover in highly proportional systems
 
 

What are the advantages of a Presidential system?
 President can check legislative power
 Executive independence
 President as symbol of national unity

What are the disadvantages of a Presidential system?
 Less accountability – President can blame legislature, and vice versa
 Inefficiency, harder to make major policy changes if one branch opposes it
 Promotes candidate centered politics
 

Which do you prefer, a presidential or a parliamentary system and why?
 

In the course, we’ve used the UK (the Westminster model) as our example.
Who is the UK’s PM and what is his party?  What is his party’s political orientation?
Describe some of its policies.
 

What are his best skills and attributes as a political leader?
 

What are our president’s best skills and attributes as a political leader?
 

Would our president fare well in a parliamentary system?  Why or why not?
 

How well does our president represent his party’s platform?  Do members of Congress from his own party support the president’s agenda or not?  Give examples.
 
 

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