The two main types of democratic governments are Parliamentary System (as seen in the United Kingdom, India, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.) and Presidential System (which exists in the United State of America, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, etc.). This distinction is mainly based on the nature of LegislatureExecutive relationship.
Parliamentary System – It makes a distinction between Head of State (President of India) and Head of Government (Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers).
The main features of the parliamentary system are:
There is a fusion of legislature and executives powers. The executive i.e., the ministry is drawn from the legislature and is subordinate to it. Ministers are also members of Parliament.
There are two executives i.e., nominal (President of India or Monarch in England) and real (ministry). All powers are exercised by the real executive although it is conducted in the name of the nominal executive.
It is a responsible government- The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers stay in power only as long as they have the required majority in the Parliament. In case, the Ministry loses majority support, the Prime Minister along with his Council of Ministers has to resign.
It may exist either as Republics or as Constitutional Monarchies depending on the nature of the nominal executive. In a Republic, the nominal executive is elected while in a Monarchy, he/she assumes position on the basis of heredity.
Most Parliamentary systems have a Bicameral Parliament for e.g., in England, Parliament consists of House of Commons (lower house-directly elected)] and House of Lords (Upper house hereditary basis)
