Parliamentary System of Government - SS1 Government Lesson Note

A parliamentary system of government is a type of government where the legislative branch (parliament) is supreme and holds the power to make laws and govern the country. The key characteristics of a parliamentary system include:

·         Head of State: In a parliamentary system, the head of state is usually a ceremonial figurehead, such as a monarch or a president, who represents the country but does not have significant political power.

·         Head of Government: The head of government is the prime minister, who is the leader of the political party or coalition that has the most seats in parliament. The prime minister is responsible for running the government and making policy decisions.

·         Separation of Powers: The legislative, executive, and judicial branches are separate but interdependent, with the legislative branch having the most power in a parliamentary system.

·         Confidence Vote: The government must maintain the support of the majority of the members of parliament. If the government loses the confidence of parliament, it may be removed from power through a vote of no confidence.

·         Party Discipline: Members of parliament are expected to vote along party lines, which helps to maintain the stability of the government and prevent gridlock.

·         Question Time: Members of parliament have the opportunity to question the prime minister and other members of the government in a public forum.

·         Coalition Governments: In some cases, no single political party has a majority in parliament, and a coalition government must be formed in order to govern effectively.