Presidential and Parliamentary Democracies

Q.

Write a response to the following arguments against democracy.

(a) Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore army should rule the country.

(b) Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.

(c) If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

Q.

Which is the largest democratic country of the world?

Q. Who is the Head of the State in India?

1. Prime Minister
2. Home Minister
3. President
4. Chief Justice of India

Q. In the USA, the President is elected by an electoral college for a fixed tenure of 5 years.

1. True
2. False

Q. Which of the following statements is untrue with reference to the Westminster system?

1. The Prime Minister is the Head of State
2. This system derives its name from the Palace of Westminster
3. Canada follows the Westminster model of government
4. Certain powers of the Judiciary are exercised by the Executive

Q. Who is the Head of the Government in the USA?

1. President
2. Cabinet Ministers
3. Chief Justice
4. Prime Minister

Q. Which of the following countries is a Presidential Democracy?

1. Bhutan
2. United States of America
3. India
4. Belgium

Q. In a Presidential form of government, the President is the Head of the State as well as the Head of the Government.

1. True
2. False

Q. Ram says that the presidential form of government believes in collective responsibility and independent branches of government with overlapping functions. Deepa says that the parliamentary form of government believes in the direct election of the president. Who do you think is right?

1. Ram is right.
2. Deepa is right.
3. Both are right.
4. Both are wrong.

Q. Rohan and Mohit live in two different countries. Rohan told Mohit that in his country, the roles of Head of State and Head of Government were held by the same person, who was elected directly by the people. Meanwhile, in Mohit's country, the Executive is responsible to the Legislature, and the Head of State has nominal powers.

With this information, which of the following statements can be true?

1. In Mohit's country, the Prime Minister is the Head of Government
2. Mohit lives in a country which follows the Presidential system of governance
3. Rohan might be a resident of the USA
4. Mohit might be a citizen of Belarus

Q. India:Sansad::Japan:Diet::Germany:X

Identify X.

1. Westminster
2. Bundestag
3. Folketing
4. Congress

Q. Pick the correctly matched pairs from the following. Hint - Names of Parliament.

1. Denmark - Bundestag
2. Japan - Diet
3. USA - Congress
4. Germany - Folketing

Q. Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the presidential form of government?

1. There is Separation of powers.
2. President owes responsibility to legislature.
3. President is the head of the state.
4. President is the head of the government.

Q. Why is the parliamentary government also known as ‘responsible government’?

1. It has the power to pass Westminster motion.
2. It has the power to pass a Cabinet Motion.
3. It has the power to pass a Confidence Motion.
4. It has the power to pass a No-Confidence Motion.

Q. Which of the following is considered as a major flaw in the Parliamentary system?

1. The power held by the ruling party dissolves the Cabinet.
2. It goes in line with the principle of separation of powers.
3. The ruling party makes the Cabinet extremely powerless.
4. It goes against the principle of separation of powers.

Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Parliamentary system?

1. The relationship between legislature and executive is usually peaceful.
2. This system ensures that the government is held responsible for its actions.
3. Legislature does not have the ability to remove the government.
4. Parliamentary system leads to uncertainty of Tenure.

Q. Match the following countries with their legislatures:

1. USA
2. Japan
3. Folketing
4. Diet
5. Germany
6. Bundestag
7. Denmark
8. Congress

Q. According to the feature of Collective Responsibility, the is accountable to the

1. Executive
2. Judiciary
3. Legislature
4. President

Q. "Only God, who appointed me, will remove me."

Who among the following leaders is said to have made this statement?

1. Robert Mugabe
2. Muammar Gaddafi
3. Emmerson Mnangagwa
4. Canaan Banana