REASONS FOR ADOPTING PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

A plea was made in favour of US presidential system of government in the Constituent Assembly4. But, the founding fathers preferred the British parliamentary system due to the following reasons:

Table 12.1 Comparing Parliamentary and Presidential Systems

Parliamentary System

Presidential System

Features:

1. Dual executive.

2. Majority party rule

3. Collective responsibility.

4. Political homogeneity

5. Double membership.

6. Leadership of prime minister.

7. Dissolution of Lower House.

8. Fusion of powers.

Features:

1. Single executive.

2. President and legislators elected separately for a fixed term.

3. Non-responsibility

4. Political homogeneity may not exist.

5. Single membership

6. Domination of president.

7. No dissolution of Lower House.

8. Separation of powers.

Merits:

1. Harmony between legislature and executive.

2. Responsible government.

3. Prevents despotism.

4. Wide representation.

Demerits:

1. Conflict between legislature and executive.

2. Non-responsible government.

3. May lead to autocracy.

4. Narrow representation.

Demerits:

1. Unstable government.

2. No continuity of policies.

Merits:

1. Stable government.

2. Definiteness in policies.

3. Based on separation of powers.

4. Government by experts

3. Against separation of powers

4. Government by amateurs.