Parliamentary vs. Presidential Systems Martin Okolikj School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe) University College Dublin 02 November 2016
1990s Parliamentary vs. Presidential Systems Scholars institutional debate Juan Linz Donald Horowitz
Parliamentary vs. Presidential Systems Parliamentary Presidential Decisive Resolute Institutionalized Coalition politics Centred on political parties Divided government Personalized Cantered on individual politicians Less organizational entities
Parliamentary Systems Government is appointed by the Parliament One-party or multiparty coalition governments
Presidential systems considerable constitutional powers generally including full control of the composition of the cabinet and administration is directly elected by the people for a fixed is directly elected by the people for a fixed term is independent of parliamentary votes of confidence
Presidential systems: president's strong claim to democratic legitimacy: Some presidents gain office with a smaller proportion of the popular vote than many premiers who head minority cabinets fixed term in office: The duration of the president's mandate becomes a crucial factor in the calculations of all political actors
Zero-sum Elections Presidentialism winner-take-all Parliamentary system power-sharing and coalition-forming
The Issue of Stability Impeachment Vote of no confidence
The Time Factor Max two fixed terms Party continuity
I Question on Party Organization Strong party is important part of democratic accountability Independently elected executive Weakens party cohesion Lacks compromise Less likely to vote together in the legislative
II Question of Interest Organization Corporatism Encourage forming of independent interest group community Pluralism Diversity of views Group independence from party Important group veto
III Question of Bureaucratic Organization the only democratically legitimate institution is parliament President not much executive role 2 rulers: Chief executive Controllers of the budget Semi independent agencies Jurisdictions (less effective) buck-passing
IV Question of Transparency Coalition only when no single party has majority Predictable coalition negotiations Vote for the chief executive leads to transparent relation between elections and electoral outcomes
V Question of Information More information bad government Information rich environment Information from free press
VI Question of Electoral Accountability National level Arising from concentration of authority Mask responsibility unpopular measures Local level Arising from multiple independent bodies blame game
VII Question of Political Change Flexible remove anytime Rigid only with impeachment
VIII Question of Institutionalism Predictable institutionalized form of politics Personalized political behaviour Media influence lead to conflict
IX Question of Contestation and Consensus Power monopolized by one party Episodic conflict during elections Continual conflict All parties in politics One party Veto power
X Question of Strength or Energy in Executive Government must have power Divided Institutional warfare of varying intensity Unilateralism Budget deficit
Constitution Agreement: Constitutional structure matter Disagreement: How constitution affect governance in a democracy
Conclusion Parliamentary system offer significant advantages over presidential system in the areas of economic and human development
Parliamentary System: Stronger political parties Corporatist interest organisation Centralized (national-level) electoral accountability Flexible policy making
Parliamentary System: Institutionalization Decisive leadership Function as a coordination device Votes for ideology and party
Presidential System: Individual ideas are not often preferred by society Votes based on personalistic characteristics
Which system is better? Depends on: Sociological Economic Political Historical