Regime Types/Presidential/Parliamentary/Semi Presidential Systems WK 7

presidential systems (separation of powers)

Executive-legislative separation: directly elected and independent of the legislature.

Fixed terms: serves for a specific term (e.g., 4 years in the U.S.).

Strong executive authority: has considerable power over policy and appointments.

Difficult removal: Impeachment is the only way to remove (rare and difficult).

• Country examples: United States, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria

parliamentary systems (fusion of powers)

Prime Minister (PM) is head of government and is usually the leader of the majority party.

The executive and legislative branches are merged (the government is part of parliament).

Flexible terms – No fixed election cycle; elections happen when needed (vote of no confidence can trigger elections).

Collective responsibility – The government (cabinet) is responsible to the parliament.

• Countries: United Kingdom (UK), Germany, Japan, Canada, India

Semi-Presidentialism (Hybrid System – In Between Presidential & Parliamentary)

Dual executive – Both a president and a prime minister.

President is directly elected and has significant authority.

Prime Minister is accountable to parliament (can be removed by a vote of no confidence).

Division of powers varies by country – In some, the president dominates (e.g., Russia), in others, power is more balanced (e.g., France).

• Countries: France (If the president’s party controls parliament → President dominates. If an opposition party controls parliament (cohabitation) → PM gains more power), Russia (strong presidential dominance), Portugal (more balanced), Ukraine (fluctuates between weak and strong presidentialism)

Benefits of Presidentialism (The "Perils of Presidentialism")

Direct legitimacy: President is elected by the people. Clear separation of powers: Prevents abuse by one branch. Fixed terms: Creates political stability.

Drawbacks of Presidentialism (The "Perils of Presidentialism")

Zero-Sum Politics: Presidential elections create a winner-takes-all system, increasing polarization. Potential for Authoritarianism: Presidents may abuse their power (e.g., executive orders, bypassing checks). Legislative Gridlock: If different parties control the executive and legislature, policymaking becomes difficult. Difficult Removal: Unlike parliamentary systems, a president is harder to remove from office.