Question

Write a note on the parliamentary system of government.

Answer 1

Answer:

The constitution-makers of India were heavily influenced by the English system, thus they adopted a parliamentary form of government. There are more parliamentary forms of government than presidents in the world. In this system, the parliament is generally supreme and the executive is responsible to the legislature. It is also known as the Cabinet form of government.

Features of the parliamentary system

• The Prime Minister along with the Council of Ministers form the executive and the Parliament is the legislature. The PM and the ministers are elected from the members of parliament, implying that the executive emerges out of the legislature.
• The executive is responsible to the legislature. There is a collective responsibility, that is, each minister’s responsibility is the responsibility of the whole Council.
• There are two executives – the real executive and the titular executive. The nominal executive is the head of state (president or monarch) while the real executive is the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.
• A prerequisite of this form of government is that cabinet proceedings are secret and not meant to be divulged to the public.
• The leader of this form of government is the Prime Minister. Generally, the leader of the party that wins a majority in the lower house is appointed as the PM.
• Most parliamentary democracies follow bicameral legislature.
• The term of the government depends on its majority support in the lower house. If the government does not win a vote of no confidence, the council of ministers has to resign. Elections will be held and a new government is formed.