. which of the following choices explains the major difference between presidential and parliamentary systems?
Presidential System
-The executive (President) can veto acts by the legislature.
-The President has a fixed tenure and cannot be removed by a vote of no-confidence in the legislature.
-Generally, the President has the power to pardon or commute judicial sentences awarded to criminals.
-The President is elected directly by the people or by an electoral college. Features of the parliamentary system
-Close relationship between the legislature and the executive: Here, 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.
-Executive responsible to 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.
-Dual executive: 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.
-Secrecy of procedure: A prerequisite of this form of government is that cabinet proceedings are secret and not meant to be divulged to the public. -Leadership of the Prime Minister: 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.
-Bicameral Legislature: Most parliamentary democracies follow bicameral legislature.
-No fixed tenure: 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.