Comparing Parliamentary and Presidential Systems

The Two Democratic Governments: UK and US

• The UK and US are considered the most effective practitioners of Parliamentarism and Presidentialism, respectively.
• The US Presidential System lacks a component present in the UK Parliament System, which is the ability to combine the executive and legislative powers.

Unitary Central Government in the UK

• The UK has a unitary central government that exercises complete control over smaller units of government, like states.
• The UK does not have a president or other executive authority that enforces laws and policies separate from lawmakers.

Woodrow Wilson's Contribution to American Democracy

• Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, is remembered for his legislative accomplishments and high-minded idealism.
• Wilson's most impactful contribution to American Democracy is the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote.
• Wilson preferred the parliamentary system, which he called "Cabinet Government", and believed it was more effective than the Presidential System.

Parliamentary System vs. Presidential System

• In the parliamentary system, the executive and legislature are not independent from each other, allowing for checks and balances.
• The parliamentary system provides immediate attention to national policy and special interests, and the Executive Body is always responsible to the legislature.
• In contrast, the Presidential System can lead to conflict between the executive and congress.

Legislative Function

• Members of Congress are representatives of the people, not the President, and are constitutionally required to represent the public.
• The President overlooks general government behavior and does not entirely attach himself with public representation.

Dominance of the House of Commons

• The House of Commons holds the power to control the government through restraint or check.
• The House of Commons serves as the barometer of public opinion in the UK Parliament.
• The House of Commons can, in theory, turn the Cabinet out of office or refuse to enact proposed laws, but this power can be bypassed by the Monarch's power to appoint ministers and veto legislation.

The Conservative and Labour Parties

• The Conservative Party uses the Cabinet as a party machinery to control the decisions of the House of Commons.
• The Labour Party promotes an active role for the state in creating economic prosperity and providing social services.

The Executive Function

• A democratic country has two problems controlling its public service: getting it to do what the people want and keeping it from doing what the people do not want.
• The dilemma comes from the avoidance of possible illegal practices: power tripping, red tape transactions, and lethargy.