1. Presidencial Form
of Government
Rajat Dixit
BALLB (Hons.) Sem II
SAP 500022447

2. INTRODUCTION
• A nation’s type of government refers to how that state’s
executive, legislative, and judicial organs are organized. All
nations need some sort of government to avoid anarchy.
Democratic governments are those that permit the nation’s
citizens to manage their government either directly or through
elected representatives. This is opposed to authoritarian
governmentsthat limit or prohibit thedirect participation of its
citizens.
• Two of themost popular typesof democratic governmentsare
– Presidential and
– Parliamentary systems

3. INTRODUCTION (CONT…)
• ThePresidential form of government isonewherethe
executiveisconstitutionally independent of the
legislaturein respect to theduration of hisor their tenure
and isnot responsibleto it for hisor for their political
policies.
• Thereisaclear-cut separation between theexecutiveand
thelegislature. Thepresident, to whom theexecutive
power isentrusted, iselected in oneprocess, and the
parliament ischosen on itsown. Thepresident cannot be
held responsibleby parliament and hecannot dissolvethe
latter.

4. GOVERNMENTS IN WORLD

5. MEANING
• Translated from Latin, theword "president" means"sitting
ahead.
• Thepresidential system hasitsoriginsin themonarchiesof
medieval Europe. Likeaking, thepresident retainsexecutive
authority over thestateand government. Thesystem took its
modern form following thepublication of "TheSpirit of the
Laws" in 1748 by French philosopher CharlesdeSecondat,
better known asBaron deMontesquieu. Heintroduced the
concept of theseparation of powers, apolitical doctrinethat
nearly 40 yearslater influenced theFounding Fathersof what
becametheUnited States.

6. DEFINATION
• “What has been called Presidential Government, as
contra-distinguished from cabinet or parliamentary
government is that system in which the legislature in
respect to their duration of his or their tenure, and
irresponsible to it for his or for their political
policies.”
- Devid Garner

7. EVOLUTION
• Thedevelopment of thispolitical institution started at theend of the18th century
and coincided with theappearanceof thefirst democratic systemsin thecountries
of theOld and New Worlds. In the18-20th centuries, theinstitution of presidency
becamean integral part of therepublican form of government and an important
featureof thedemocratic system.
• Themodern form of thedemocratic republic derivesfrom avery long lineagethat
can betraced back to theancient Greek city-states, which includeseveral that
existed on thepresent-day territory of Ukraine(Olvia, Pantecapaion and
Chersonesus). From the6th
to the1st
century BC, Romewasan established republic,
which wasfollowed in theMiddleAgesby numerouscity-republicsin what would
becomeItaly (such asVenice, Genoa, Florence). Later, theRepublic of United
Provincesappeared in theNetherlands(1572), and arepublican system of
government reigned in Britain at thetimeof theRevolution (1649-1660). These
republicschart theevolving form of government that gavebirth to what isnow
known astherepublican model.

8. EVOLUTION (CONT…)
• Thefirst modern republics, headed by aPresident, appeared
relatively recently and only in theNew World. Their riseis
seen asareaction by young colonialistsagainst theonerous
stricturesof Old World monarchies, from whosesystem they
fled. In keeping with thepioneering ideology of thesettlers,
thepost of President wasnot appointed for life, but rather
elected for set terms, and what ismoreimportant, thepowers
of thePresidency werelimited by theConstitution. The
institution of Presidency wasvested with themain task of the
republican system – to guaranteetheobservanceof the
Constitution, and therefore, of democracy.

9. EVOLUTION (CONT…)
• GeorgeWashington waselected thefirst President of theUnited Statesof
Americain 1789 and soon theinstitutionsof presidency began
proliferating swiftly in variouscountriesof theNew World: Haiti (1807),
Paraguay (1813), Argentina(1816), Chile(1817), Columbia(1819), Costa
Ricaand Peru (1821), Mexico (1824), Bolivia(1825), Venezuela, Ecuador
and Uruguay (1830), Nicaragua(1835), Guatemala(1839), Hondurasand
El Salvador (1841), and theDominican Republic (1844). Thefirst
president-headsof statein EuropewereLouisNapoleon Bonapartein
Franceand JonasFurrer in Switzerland in 1848. Thefirst president in Asia
wasSun Yat-sen of China, elected in 1911, and abit later, in 1923,
MustafaKemal – called Atatürk – becamethePresident of Turkey. In
Africa, thefirst president headed Liberiain 1847, and in 1854 theOrange
Republic adopted apresidency (since1910 it hasbeen apart of thepresent
South African Republic).

10. EVOLUTION (CONT…)
• Now adays, presidentshead most statesin theworld. Their
responsibilitiesinclude: representation of thestatesin domestic and
international relations; ensuring statesovereignty and national
security; appointment and dismissal of headsof diplomatic missions
abroad and certain membersof thegovernment; leadership of the
Armed Forces; conferring stateawards, military and civil titles;
granting pardons; decision-making regarding citizenship of thestate;
and many other official duties.
• Depending on thetypeof republic (presidential or parliamentary),
presidentshaveawider or narrower scopeof authority for
appointing thePrimeMinister or making laws. In thevast majority
of republics, thepresident isthemost important political figure.

11. EVOLUTION (CONT…)
• However, in somestateslikeGermany, Italy and Israel, the
president hasamostly representativefunction, and it isthe
chancellor or primeminister, who is“theface” of thestate. In
anumber of countries, including Great Britain, Denmark,
Sweden, Spain, and Japan, monarchical dynastieshavebeen
maintained. Whileremaining nominal rulers, royal figuresin
thesesystemspassall statefunctionsover to theparliament or
cabinet of ministers. However, theoldest and perhapsmost
successful world democracies– in Franceand America– are
led by presidentspossessing extensiveauthority.

12. SEMI-PRESIDENCIAL
• Thehead of stateiselected by
popular vote— either directly
or indirectly— for afixed term
of office.
• Thehead of statesharesthe
executivepower with aprime
minister, creating adual power
structurewith threefeatures:

13. SEMI-PRESITENCIAL(CONT…)
• Thehead of stateisindependent from thelegislature, but is
not entitled to govern aloneor legislatedirectly. Legislative
policiesmust berouted through theGovernment and the
legislature.
• Conversely thePrimeMinister and cabinet areresponsible
to thelegislature(must besustained by aworking majority).
• Thebalanceof (legislative) power oscillatesbetween the
head of state(President) and thePrimeMinister depending
on whether or not thereisaunified majority (president) or a
divided majority (primeminister).

14. DEMERITS
• Thesemi-presidential system (likethepresidential and
parliamentary) requireswell-developed (“fit”) political
parties.
• Assumesthat internal party divisionswill not prevent the
president and primeminister from working effectively
together.
• Doesnot resolveproblemsof polarized pluralism or a
fractured political party system (and inability to reach
decisionsor form stablecoalitionswithin thelegislature).

15. CHARCTERSTICS
• Real authority of theGovernment.
• Separation of power of organsof Government.
• Elected for fixed tenureof office.
• Not amember of legislature.
• Subordinateposition of cabinet.
• Processof Impeachment.
• Fixed Tenureof Elections.

16. MERITS
• Head of thestateisreal and enjoysthereal power.
• Stability of Government within fix tenure.
• Efficient working by separated executiveand
legislature.
• Executiveenjoy abundant prestige, dignity and
commandsuniversal respect.
• Executiveneed not attend thelegislature
• Suitablefor emergency period.
• WiseCabinet.

17. MERITS (CONT…)
• Most Powerful executiveauthority.
• RepresentativeTypeof Government.
• Dual control of plural executiveisavoided.
• Comparativeimmunefrom party sprit.
• Suitablefor federal typeof Constitution or multi
party system.
• Lessinfluencefrom parties.
• Unity of control and quickness.

18. DEMERITS
• It may tendsto Autocracy and tyranny.
• It may leadsto deadlock and conflict between
executiveand legislature.
• It may leadsto irresponsibility.
• No flexibility in character.
• Not aself corrective
• It affect theforeign relation and non-co-operation
• Rigid constitution

19. PARLIAMENTRY v.
PRESIDENTICAL(conclusion)
Parliamentary
Government
Presidential Government
i. Dual Headed Govt. SingleHeaded Govt.
ii. Fusion of Power Separation of Power
iii. Voteof no-confidenceis
present
Voteof no-confidenceisnot
present
iv. Tenureof executiveisnot
guaranteed
Tenureof executiveisfixed
v. Minister enjoysequal
statusasexecutivehead
Secretariesaresubordinateof
President

20. Parliamentary
Government
Presidential Government
vi. Executiveisresponsiblefor
Legislaturetoo
Executiveisnot responsibleto
theLegislature
vii. Minister from singleparty Secretariesmay belongsto any
party
viii. Minister can bepart of both
Legislatureand Executive
Dual Membership isnot
permitted
ix. Cabinet isreal and powerful Kitchen Cabinet
x. Moresignificanceof political
Party
Lesssignificanceof political
Party
xi. Head can dissolveLegislature Head can’t dissolveLegislature

21. Parliamentary
Government
Presidential Government
xii. Quick decision arenot
possible
Decisionscan betaken quickly
xiii. Not suitableduring
Emergencies
Suitableduring Emergencies
xiv. Small term dueto political
instability
Long Term dueto position of
stability
xv. Leadsto administrative
inefficiency astheministers
areselected on thebasisof
their political affiliation rather
than their abilitiesand
experience
Leadsto administrative
efficiency asthemembersof
cabinet areselected on thebasis
of their abilitiesrather than their
political affiliation

22. Which is better suited to India :
Parliamentary or Presidential ???

23. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://www.president.gov.ua/en/content/president_history.html
• http://www.ehow.com/about_6403383_meaning-presidential-system
• http://www.ushistory.org/gov/7a.asp
• Robert Elgie, ThePoliticsof Semi- Presidencialism
• Horst H. Bahro, Virtues& Vicesof Semi- Presidential
Government
• JoseCheibub, Systemsof Government: Parliamentarism and
Presidentialism

24. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• P.A. Sangma, Functioning of Parliamentary Democracy in
India
• Alan Siaroff, Comparativepresidencies: Theinadequacy of
thepresidential, semi-presidential and parliamentary
distinction
• Earl G. Parreño, TheShift to Parliamentary System
• T. Rajavardhan, Presidential and Parliamentary Systemsin
Government : Recent trendsin World Democracies
• Matthew Søberg Shugart, Semi-Presidential Systems:
• Dual Executiveand Mixed Authority Patterns
• S. R. myneni, Political Science