Comparative Advantages Of Presidential And Parliamentary Systems Politics Essay

Comparative Advantages Of presidential And Parliamentary Systems Politics EssayAt the birth of e re e really(prenominal)y solid ground is the key structural question, how best to g everyplacen sensations people and state. This has predominantly been met with two, very differing and opposing answers that of presidentialism and parliamentarism. The variables that de confinesine this choice atomic human body 18 inherently entrenched in the semipolitical, social and economic history of the state in question. As very much(prenominal) one fecal matternot dismiss one placeicular strategy on a political or ethnocentric basis, but evaluate it on its pertinency and suitability to the state that it presides in, and the impact the innate strengths and defaces of both systems.However given over the huge number of political systems to study and the national variations that pass indoors each state it would be impossible to present a all-embracing comparison of the systems, as much( prenominal) I will focus on two systems in particular, the United Kingdom and the Unites States of the States. These can be regarded as the figureheads of their respective systems and the models upon which most different systems argon based.The American constitution was created in 1787 with the radical idea that no single branch of the political twist should arouse precedence over another. As such the concept of stray reason was maked. This involved a significant departure from the traditional forms of regime of the colonial states that had controlled and exploited the New World states such as the US itself. The governing bodys of the industrialised imperialists tended to be dominated by the decision maker. This is another significant portion which encouraged these ex-colonial states to reject the democratically imperfect parliaments of the European imperialists in try of a fairer, more(prenominal) representative system inspired by the ideas of Aristotle1. hence both th e executive and legislative is elected separately and therefore have dual democratic genuineness. Therefore neither body is accountable to the other such as in the British parliament, so there is no danger of one branch holding more power and dominate the other. This ensures a more balanced government and one that more powerful expounds the political will of the public. The fact that there are bicameral and presidential elections makes the system much more representative and democratic wherefore in the UK where only the legislature is elected. It also makes the political institution more tractile to the changing tide of public opinion. For instance if the British public becomes disgruntled with its Labour government after its election it may have to ask five eld before they can vote against them, whereas in the US elections for at least one aspect of government occur either two old age, enabling government to better represent the contemporary political desires of its citi zens.This arouses another key component of the presidential model it has set term times for its officials. For instance the President is in office for four years and can only be removed by being impeached by the congress, a very rare move. This gives the system a stability and removes the un receivedties of the parliamentary system where the threat of both the vote of confidence and anticipated elections ever hang over the government. Anticipated elections though inducing a certain amount of uncertainty into the parliament, they also give the government a much greater flexibility then that of its American counterpart, enabling them to alter the political landscape of the parliament to react to the changing moods and reality of the domestic and world-wide environment. New elections may be called before the obligatory five years for a number of reasons, for instance to strengthen a parties ruling majority, to introduce a new government if one cannot be created or becomes unworkable or to respond to crises such as a huge grunge in government.2In terms of elections in the Congress the framers ensured that both houses of the bicameral legislative should be elected, in keeping with the founding democratic principles of the American constitution. This leads to a much fairer and representative governing of the people as all aspects of the legislative and presidency are elected by the people. However the comparatively high number of elections may go some way to explaining the highly low voting turn out of the American people, perhaps roughly apathetic to elections they dismiss as commonplace and thus irrelevant.These dual presidential and Congressional elections allow the opportunity for both a legislative and government division. If different parties occupy each house or the congress is united against the opposing administration there can be a separate government. This can lead to a deep division within the presidential system if the two sides disagree, it can b e very difficult to act out legislation or concur on appointments to the dictatorial law court3, gorgeously described by Rauch under the term of demosclerosis. However, few examples of a merged government since WWII demonstrate that unification does not guarantee efficient, informed, timely and sub judice public policy4, as seen under Jimmy Carters administration and ascribable to the individualist based nature of US politics rather then party orientated. In fact the potential delays associated with dual democratic legitimacy ensures that policies are not rushed and are mutual accepted by both the executive and legislature.The third branch of the presidential system is the Supreme Court, yet Schubert has shown that it is only since 1957 has the supreme court began to exert its power over the congress and president by asserting its constitutional right to cast out laws it deems unconstitutional. Previously to this the Supreme Court had only struck down Presidents actions xi v times, failing to maintain an effective separation of power by undermining the system of balance and checks that the US model is based on.5A more nonparasitic and aggressive judiciary helps to ensure that the constitutional rights of the public are hold and to limit the powers of the executive and legislative. However there shut away remains the ability for a combined, presidential, congressional and federal over turning of the Supreme Court ruling so as to ensure the balance of power remains.though the British parliament encompasses a number of similarities with the US model such as a bicameral legislative and three branched system, it still remains profoundly different in how these institutions are created and distributed. Most importantly only the legislative is democratically legitimate. This means that the executive originates from and is appointed by the legislative. This has a number of critical implications. Without the potential legitimacy contradicts that may occur in America the government can rule much more efficiently and promptly then the grid locked Presidential model. However the executive is prevented from abusing this power by the fact they have no democratic power base and as such, are accountable to the legislative by a vote of confidence. This allows a flexibility in the parliamentary system that America lacks. If the government suffers from ineptitude, an unworkable hung government or national crisis the government can be expelled and new elections called. This has only occurred once in Britain in 1979 when the nonage government of Labours Callaghan was removed with a vote of no confidence when the government had become hung and ineffective6.The UK also has an unelected head of state, albeit a de jure power role. though this is extremely undemocratic when compared to the US system, monarchists argue that the royal family acts as a symbolic vessel for all the heritage and wisdom of the previous generations and is a fundamental ins titution of the British consciousness. The same can also be said for the lower house of the UKs bicameral legislative. The house of Lords is another unelected part of the parliament, albeit much less influential then the house of parliament. This gives the parliament a stability, in its continuity that the permanently changing congress lacks, even if this is at the expense of democratic inclusiveness.The house of Lords also acts as the highest judiciary court of the parliamentary system. They can repeal government decisions only by legal precedents as the UK has no constitution. This streamlines the political structure and thus reduces the opportunity for inter-branch conflict which would slow down and inhibit the mechanism of governing as demonstrate by the demosclerosis that occurs in the US. However this is an obvious merging of powers and allows room for the offense of power and conflict of interests, and as such is a serious flaw in the UK system.The traditional form that par liament or legislature takes is that of a majoriatarian, where there is one dominant party with a majority of sit down (51 %plus). With Britains tradition of a ministers loyalty to their party and the whip system, they have very disciplined parties compared to America. This allows the party with an absolute majority to pass their legislative quickly and efficiently. Whereas in the US, despite the importance of party labels, member of Congress are independent players who vote not primarily out of party loyalty but to advance their constituency and career interests7. This means that the fluidic environment of Congress relies on undisciplined parties in order for it to function in a change integrity government, the existence of a whip system in such a divided government would produce comprehensive grid lock.This is a utmost example of the inherent indigenous nature of politics, what works in one state may not work in another. This is evident in the wide spread failure of president democracies such as in South Vietnam. Americas attempts during the Cold War to remake the third world in its image have obviously been an over-riding disaster. Both these systems require a number of prerequisites in the nation they are being implemented in. America requires a lack of ideological rigidity, undisciplined parties and locally-orientated politics8, whereas Britain needs public deference to its political rulers and an allegiance to authority. So despite each systems blatant imperfections they are ideally suited to the two entirely different nations they exist in.