Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems
William Gray
5 min read
Listen to this study note
Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers political institutions, focusing on parliamentary, presidential, and semi-presidential systems. It examines the roles and responsibilities within each system, including the Prime Minister, President, Cabinet, and legislature. Examples like the UK, Mexico, and Russia illustrate these concepts. Note: China and Iran are excluded from this unit.
AP Comparative Government: Political Systems Study Guide 🚀
Hey there, future AP Gov ace! Let's get you prepped and confident for the exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for a quick, effective review. We'll break down the key concepts, make connections, and get you ready to rock! 🎸
Unit 2: Political Institutions - Focus on Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems
This unit is super important! Let's dive in. Remember, we're skipping China and Iran for this section, as per the CED.
Parliamentary System 🏛️
-
What it is: A democratic system where the party with the most seats in the legislature forms the government. The leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister (or Chancellor). Think of it as a team winning and their captain becoming the leader. 🏆
-
Key Feature: The people vote for members of parliament (MPs), not directly for the Prime Minister. The majority party in parliament selects the PM. This is a big difference from the US! 🇺🇸
-
Power Dynamic: Parliament has the power to select and remove the head of government and cabinet. They're the boss! 💪
The executive and legislative branches are intertwined in a parliamentary system. The Prime Minister is the head of both branches.
The UK, a classic example of a parliamentary system.
Roles and Responsibilities in a Parliamentary System
| Role | Responsibility | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Leader of the National Government | The PM is the leader of the party with the most seats in parliament and heads both the executive and legislative branches. |
| Cabinet | Cabinet Members/Heads of Bureaucracy | Chosen by the PM from the majority party, the cabinet is the center of policy making. They believe in collective responsibility – they all support the government's policies. 🤝 |
Parliamentary System = Party Power! Remember, the party with the most seats in parliament gets to form the government and choose the Prime Minister.
Presidential System 🧑u200d💼
-
What it is: A democratic system where the head of government (the President) leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch. Think of it as two separate teams working together. 🤝
-
Key Feature: The people directly elect the President. Legislative elections are separate. 🗳️
-
Example: Mexico 🇲🇽 is a great example! Nigeria 🇳🇬 is also a presidential system.
Mexico, a presidential system.
Roles and Responsibilities in a Presidential System
| Role | Responsibility | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Branch - President | Head of State/Head of Government/Commander in Chief | The President is the head of the executive branch, head of state, head of government, and supreme commander of the military. They are directly elected by the people. |
| Legislative Branch - Senate & Chamber of Deputies | Creating Laws | Has the power to make laws, impose taxes, declare war, reject treaties, and ratify diplomatic appointments. Legislative elections are separate from presidential elections and often use proportional representation. |
| Judicial Branch - Supreme Court | Interpreting Laws | Divided into federal and state systems. The Supreme Court has final appellate powers over federal and state courts. |
Presidential System = People's Pick! Remember, the people directly elect the president, and the executive and legislative branches are separate.
Semi-Presidential System 🤹
-
What it is: A dual executive system with a President and a Prime Minister and cabinet. It's a mix of parliamentary and presidential systems. Think of it as having two leaders, each with their own role. 👯
-
Key Feature: The President is directly elected, while the Prime Minister is appointed by the President (usually with legislative approval). 🤝
-
Example: Russia 🇷🇺 is our example here. The power dynamic between the President and PM can vary. 💡
Russia, a semi-presidential system.
Roles and Responsibilities in a Semi-Presidential System
| Role | Responsibility | Explanation |
|---|
How are we doing?
Give us your feedback and let us know how we can improve
Question 1 of 10
In a parliamentary system, who selects the Prime Minister? 🤔
Directly by the people
The majority party in the legislature
Appointed by the president
Elected by an electoral college