Parliamentary System

• Fusion of Powers: The executive and legislative branches are intertwined. The Prime Minister, the head of government, is typically a member of the legislature.
• Collective Responsibility: The government is collectively responsible to the legislature. If the government loses the confidence of the legislature, it must resign.
• No Fixed Term: The government serves until it loses the confidence of the legislature or until a general election is called.
• Examples: United Kingdom, Canada, India, Australia

Presidential System

• Separation of Powers: The executive, legislative, and judicial branches are separate and have distinct powers.
• Fixed Terms: The president, as the head of state and government, serves a fixed term, regardless of the performance of the administration.
• Checks and Balances: The system includes checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
• Examples: United States, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria

Key Differences and Characteristics:

• Formation of Government: In a parliamentary system, the government is formed by the party or coalition with a majority in the legislature. In a presidential system, the president is elected directly by the people.
• Accountability: In a parliamentary system, the government is directly accountable to the legislature. In a presidential system, the president is accountable to the people.
• Stability: Parliamentary systems can be more prone to instability due to the possibility of coalition governments or frequent elections. Presidential systems tend to be more stable due to the fixed terms of the president.
• Flexibility: Parliamentary systems are more flexible, as the government can be replaced without a general election. Presidential systems are less flexible, as the president serves a fixed term.