Organization of the Government

Making and execution of laws is the primary function of a Government

A democratic government can be based on Parliamentary or Presidential system

Within the Parliamentary or Presidential system, the system of government can of unitary or federal form

Legislature is entrusted with enactment of laws while the executive is concerned with day to day administration and execution of laws

Relationship between the legislature and the executive differentiates Parliamentary and Presidential Governments

Relationship between the centre and federating units determines the unitary or federal character of the government

Parliamentary/Presidential System of Government

Parliamentary GovernmentExecutive is a part of legislatureExecutive is accountable to legislature for its

actions

Presidential GovernmentPresident is the head of state as well as

governmentExecutive authority is concentrated in the

President

President chalks out administrative policy and this policy does not require ratification by legislature

President exercises full powers as conferred by the constitution

Members of cabinet are appointed by the President and are accountable to the President

Legislature works independently as wellThere is a clear independence of both branches

from each other Both the legislature and executive are accountable

to people e.g. America

Parliamentary System: Salient Features

Head of state has only ceremonious functions. Prime Minister is the head of Government and the executive head. Head of the state acts on the advice of Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

Cabinet is a part of legislatureMembers of cabinet are elected to

legislature and chosen by Prime Minister as a team

There is a close coordination between executive and legislature. Both can influence each other

Cabinet being a team is collectively responsible to legislature.

Presidential System: Salient Features

The Chief Executive, the President, is elected directly or indirectly (through electoral college) by the people

President has a fixed tenure and cannot be removed except through impeachment

Members of presidential cabinet are not the members of legislature

Ministers are directly and individually responsible to the President

Although independent of each other, President still has some influence on parliament (Veto Powers of US President) and parliament also has some checks on the president

Comparison of Parliamentary/ Presidential Systems

Parliamentary System PM and Cabinet can stay

so long as they have confidence of legislature even in their fixed term of some years

Ministers are the members of legislature

Executive (Cabinet) takes part in legislation

Presidential System President has a fixed

term and cannot be removed in ordinary circumstances except by impeachment

Ministers are not the members of legislature

Cabinet, not being the members of legislature, do not take part in legislation

Parliamentary System Concept of joint

responsibility before the parliament

Most of the legislation is done under the guidance of the executive

Presidential System Each minister is

responsible to President for his/her actions

The legislation is done independently normally without the guidance of the executive

Unitary/Federal Forms of Government

Unitary form of GovernmentNo separation of powers between national

government and local governmentsConstitutionally, all powers rest with the

central/national governmentExamples are UK, Italy, France

Federal form of GovernmentConstitutional division of powers between centre

and federating units

Matters of national importance fall within the domain of central government like currency, defence, foreign affairs

Matters of regional/local importance rest with the federating units/provinces like education, health, social welfare

Relationship between centre and the federating units can be varied by the amendments in the constitution

Unitary Form: Salient Features

National government holds paramount position in administration throughout country

Local institutions are subordinate to national government in their function

National government may grant maximum powers to local institutions like in UK but the former remains supreme

UK has a unitary form of Government where central government is exclusive source of authority

UK Government delegates powers to local institutions and is fully authorized to withdraw them at anytime

Federal Government: Salient Features

In the words of Hamilton, it is ‘an organization of states that gives birth to a new union’

Federal constitution specifies division of powers between centre and federating units

Federation provides effective union with protection of rights of federating units

Federal system maintains a reasonable balance between centralism and regionalism

The constitution of USA provides federal system where powers of the centre and the federating units called states are clearly demarcated

Comparison :Unitary and Federal Governments

Unitary form of Govt. Suitable to smaller states

especially having geographical unity and political homogeneity

Regional units can exercise powers delegated to them by the centre. Constitution does not specify their powers

Federal form of Govt. Suitable to states with

larger area and less geographical/political homogeneity

Clear division of powers by constitution. Federating units can legislate on the matters of regional importance

Unitary form of Govt. Regional units derive

their powers from the centre

It is comparatively easier for the central government to enact laws and govern as desired

Federal form of Govt. Federating units derive

their powers from the constitution

To enact laws and govern, the central government has to take into account the wishes of federating units

Pakistan

Parliamentary system of Government with Federal form

Prime Minister and cabinet are the members of legislature

Parliament can enact lawsCabinet is responsible to the parliamentPakistan comprises of four federating units called

provincesConstitution of 1973 provides with the federal list,

provincial list and concurrent list

…………..

IssuesProvincial autonomy

Critics argue that the Federal Government in Pakistan does not provide the extent of autonomy to the provinces to an ideal level

Division of powers between the president and prime minister

Dissolution of the National Assembly and the Cabinet

Appointments to key positions like provincial governors, service chiefs