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
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