Unit 3 Chapter 14: Presidents and Prime Ministers PDF

# Presidents and Prime Ministers ## The Different Between Presidential and Parliamentary Politics * In a **presidential** system, the **president** is the chief executive. * The **president** is chosen by the voters. * The **president** then appoints cabinet members who don't need to be a member o...

# Presidents and Prime Ministers ## The Different Between Presidential and Parliamentary Politics * In a **presidential** system, the **president** is the chief executive. * The **president** is chosen by the voters. * The **president** then appoints cabinet members who don't need to be a member of the legislative body, Congress. * In a **parliamentary** system, the **prime minister** is the chief executive. * The **prime minister** is chosen by the legislature. * The **prime minister** chooses other ministers who are always members of parliament. * The **prime minister** remains in power so long as his or her party has a majority of seats in the legislature or a coalition he or she has assembled holds together. ## Presidents Are Often Outsiders * **Presidents** are typically elected from outside of the political system (e.g., military leaders, governors) and are not members of the legislature. * **Prime ministers** are always members of the legislature. ## Presidents Choose Cabinet Members from Outside Congress * The US Constitution prohibits someone serving in Congress from holding an executive position. * **Prime ministers** always choose cabinet members from members of parliament. * However, the **president's cabinet** are often close friends, campaign aides, representatives of various important constituencies or experts on various policy issues. ## Presidents Have No Guaranteed Majority In The Legislature * A **prime minister's** party always has a majority in the legislature. * If they don't, a new election would need to be held, resulting in a different **prime minister**. * **Presidents** usually don't have a majority in the legislature. This is because Congress is made up of people who represent various constituencies and may not always be sympathetic to the **president's** agenda. * Thus, the **president** relies on negotiation and compromise to get his bills passed. ## The First Cabinet: Left to Right: * Secretary of War - Henry Knox * Secretary of State - Thomas Jefferson * Attorney General - Edmund Randolph * Secretary of the Treasury - Alexander Hamilton * President George Washington *** **Image Description:** The image depicts a painting of four men in a room. They are seated on chairs and are looking at a piece of paper. The men are in the middle of conversation and may be discussing the piece of paper. The men are dressed in suits and are white males. The background appears to be a room with a fireplace and some items on the walls.