REGIME TYPEREGIME TYPEPresidentialism & ParliamentarismPresidentialism & Parliamentarism

► Democratic regimes Rely on formal constitutions that protect

citizens’ rights and call for free elections► Authoritarian regimes

Concentrate power in the hands of one ruler or a ruling few

Rely on ideology, religion, or personal charisma as a source of moral authority

► Market economies► Command economies► Welfare-state systems► Constitutional democracies

Political Systems & Economic ModelsPolitical Systems & Economic Models

► The state plays a major role in redistributing wealth

► Some key parts of the economy (railroads, airlines, and public utilities) are nationalized

► The government uses fiscal & monetary policies to regulate the economy

► High tax revenues are used to support social programs

► Education & health care are free or heavily subsidized

► Job security

Welfare-state SystemsWelfare-state Systems

► What is the difference between presidential and parliamentary systems?

► What is the confidence relationship?

► How are governments formed in parliamentary systems?

► What is premier-presidentialism?

► What are the positive and negative aspects of presidentialism? Parliamentarism? Premier-Presidentialism?

Presidentialism & ParliamentarismPresidentialism & Parliamentarism

► What is the confidence relationship?► Basic rules concerning decision making,

rights, and the distribution of authority within a political system.

► May or may not be written.► May or may not be a single document. ► Written or codified constitutions important for

systems based on the rule of law.► Democratic constitutions vary across three

dimensions Separation of powers Geographic distribution of authority (unitary vs.

federal) Limitations on government authority

ConstitutionsConstitutions

► A long history in political theory

► Rooted in part in political revolutions.

► Associated with preventing the ability of

unchecked executive or legislature rule.

► Classic theories predicated on the US

(presidential) and the UK (parliamentary)

models.

► Models posit very different relationships

between the executive and the legislature.

Fused vs. Separated PowersFused vs. Separated Powers

► Executive and legislative branches are elected

separately (separate origin).

► Cabinet members do not sit in the legislative

branch.

► Both branches are elected for a fixed term.

► Neither branch can remove the other except in

extraordinary circumstances (separate

survival).

► President as head of state and head of

government.

PresidentialismPresidentialism

► Only the legislature is directly elected.► Prime Minister and the Cabinet constitute the

executive (collective executive).► Prime Minister and the Cabinet come from the

legislature (fused power-shared origin).► Prime Minister as head of government.► Terms for the executive and the legislature are

not fixed.► Confidence relationship exists between the

executive and legislative branches (shared survival).

ParliamentarismParliamentarism

► Concept of responsible government defines

parliamentary systems.

► PM and his or her government must have the

confidence of the chamber (majority support).

► Legislature possesses authority to express no

confidence in the executive.

► Executive (PM) has powers of dissolution.

Confidence RelationshipConfidence Relationship

► Disciplined political parties are critical in

parliamentary systems.

► After electorate votes, who will control

office is a key question.

► Party systems are key to shaping this

process.

► Majoritarian vs. proportionate party

systems.

Parliamentarism as Party GovernmentParliamentarism as Party Government

► Electoral system is key distinction. Plurality /Single member districts majoritarian

systems (NZ, Australlia, UK, Canada, France, India, US).

Proportionate/Consensual systems.

► Most developed parliamentary systems are

proportionate.

► Study of linkages between elections and

governments central to politics in

democracies.

► Coalitions shaped by institutions and systemic

factors.

Majoritarian vs. Proportionate SystemsMajoritarian vs. Proportionate Systems

► Track record outside of the US is debatable.

► Fixed terms create inflexibility.

► Suffers from immobilism due to divided

government.

► Winner take all logic hinders stability.

► Direct elections creates opportunities for

outsiders or demagogues.

► Unclear who to credit or blame for policy.

Critiques of PresidentialismCritiques of Presidentialism

► Direct elections provide more choice for voters (increases accountability and identifiability).

► Legislators vote on the merits of policy rather than on confidence measures.

► Parliamentary systems experience divided government in bicameral settings.

► Majority governments in parliamentary systems are often unchecked (winner take all).

► Flexibility of parliamentarism problematic when stable governments cannot form.

Response of PresidentialismResponse of PresidentialismCritiques of Parliamentarism

Comparison of AdvantagesComparison of AdvantagesParliamentarism vs. Presidentialism

FlexibilityFlexibility Clear lines of Clear lines of

accountabilityaccountability Clear majority ruleClear majority rule Efficient, Efficient,

streamlined streamlined decision making.decision making.

Decisive leadershipDecisive leadership Checking/balancing of Checking/balancing of

powerpower Necessarily Necessarily

cumbersome cumbersome legislative procedureslegislative procedures

Stability, personalized Stability, personalized leadershipleadership

Ease to pinpoint Ease to pinpoint responsibilityresponsibility

Comparison of DisadvantagesComparison of DisadvantagesParliamentarism vs. Presidentialism

InstabilityInstability Numerous, Numerous,

fragmented party fragmented party systemsystem

Fusion of powersFusion of powers Dangerous for Dangerous for

young democraciesyoung democracies

InflexibilityInflexibility Effects on Party Effects on Party

SystemSystem Zero-sum, Zero-sum,

majoritarian politicsmajoritarian politics Personalism, Personalism,

corruptioncorruption Dual legitimacyDual legitimacy Lack of role Lack of role

differentiationdifferentiation