This gives an outline of forms of governments like parliamentary, presidential, unitary. and federal. The merits, demerits are also outlined along with the characteristic features. This is highly student-friendly and is quite suitable for students preparing for their early course in Political Science

1. Sameer Babu M, Ph. D
Assistant Professor
Department of Education, AMU Centre, Malappuram
On Government

2. Do you Know?
On the basis of Relationship b/n Legislature and Executive
If the executive is responsible to the legislature, or depends
on the will of legislature, or removable by a non-confidence
motion passed by the legislature, then such a government is
termed as parliamentary
If the executive is independent, separated from the
legislature and not dependent on the will of the legislature-
Presidential

3. Parliamentary
Origin- Great Britain
Direct responsibility to the legislature
Executive can remain in power only as long as it has the trust
of the law making body
Threat of non-confidence motion

4. Speciality/Features
Existence of two types of executives-Nominal/titular
executive and real executive
King/Queen/Elected President-Nominal
Cabinet headed by PM-Real
Cabinet is answerable to the parliament
Everything (rules) are taken by the cabinet in the name of
nominal head
Nominal exe symbolizes the unity of nation and the real
executive rules

5. Leadership of PM
As a head of the majority party
Selects other ministers
Resignation leads to fall of ministry
Presides the meeting of the cabinet
Prime ministerial govenrment

6. Political Homogeneity
Same party and same interest among all the ministers
Unity
Team spirit

7. Collective action and
responsibility
Collectively responsible to the parliament
All minister are responsible
If parliament disapproves any action of the cabinet, the entire
ministry must resign
Individual responsibility for their deparmtent

8. Secrecy
Secrecy is possible
Solidarity
Works as a union. If PM resign the entire ministry will fell
down
Development Orientation

9. Merits
More democratic
Close relation between two organs of Govt.
Efficiency oriented
Less chance of despotism
Will of the people prevails
Continuity of the policies and programmes is possible

10. Demerits
Cabinet instability- No fixed tenure-only with Support-Non-
confidence motion-If no majority, it is an issue
Cabinet Dictatorship- Majority may lead to
Not accepting the theory of Separation of Power
Minority Government- In multiparty system there is a
chance for that
Lack of continuity and ambiguity
Lack of Professionalism- Since based on Party rule

11. Presidential Form
Executive is independent
Real executive and elected for a fixed period
Not responsible for legislature
Process of Impeachment for removal
 Selection-either direct election or by an electoral college
All ministers are subordinates

12. Features
Head of the state is real executive
Fixed tenure for President
Not a member of legislature and not responsible for
legislature
Based of theory of power separation
Minsters are subordinates

13. Strengths
Stability- Fixed tenure
Faster decision- Since power separated and not responsible
Efficient administration
Less involvement of Parties
Not responsible to the legislature
Significant merits

14. Limitations
Separation of power is difficult
Presidential dictatorship
Lack of flexibility- NO contact with legislature
No by-elections- No provision
Leads to deadlocks between legislature and executive-
Harmonious working of the govt. is difficult.

15. Unitary and Federal Forms of
Government
Division of Governmental Power based classification.
If powers are concentrated in one central government only,
then it is know as unitary Government.
If powers are divided between a National Government and
Many Provincial Government- It is Federation.
Most of the European and African countries, China etc are
unitary.
Federal USA, India, Australia, Russia, Pakistan, Ethiopia,
Sudan, Canada, Mexico.

16. Unitary Govt.
It is a single integrated system of administration
Ultimate authority, Control over all governmental affairs
rests in Centre
Centre may divide the state into many provinces/ sections
and is only for administrative convenience and not for power
delegation. Power gives if it seems appropriate and not the
entire power
No constitutional powers for the provinces only derived
power from the centre.
Centre can withdraw/reduce/abolish the given power at any
time

17. Strengths/Merits
Uniform Administration- uniformity in law, policies and
programmes.
Balanced Development is possible.
Stability.
Less Expensive.
Centralised Planning is possible.
Flexibility- Since the power is in central government, centre
can change the policies as per the will/circumstances.
Promotes national unity.

18. Limitations
Local Interests are not properly protected
Leads to central despotism
Not suitable for big states
Overburden leads to lack of efficiency
Political Education becomes difficult- In every state citizens
are getting political awareness from the govt. It is not very
easy to give political awareness with a Unitary system

19. Federal Form of Government
Division of powers between and central govt. and the
governments of federating units
Two governments. 1- Central Level, & 2- Provincial/State
Level
A federal State is nothing but a political contrivance
intended to reconcile national unity with the maintenance of
state’s rights- Dicey, AV
Two forms of Formation- By Centripetal Forces and
By Centrifugal Forces

20. Centripetal Force
A number of independent sovereign states may come
together to form a federation by accepting a common
sovereignty.
Eg.-Australia, USA, Switzerland.

21. Centrifugal Forces
A unitary state is divided into many units and late on
transformed into a federation
Eg- Canada

22. Characteristics
1- Division of Powers between Centre and Units.
Division should be specified in the constitution
Central Agenda- Having national importance like defence,
foreign affairs, currency and coinage, etc.
State Agenda- Having local importance like law and order,
police, health and sanitation, local governance, etc.
Power to make laws and execute
Lists are there in Indian Constitution- Union, State and
Concurrent

23. Written and Rigid Constitution
Distribution of Power in the constitution
Constitution is Supreme
Divisions/units function accordingly
Rigid constitution- Special Procedure for Amendment

24. Federal Court
Inseparable element
As a guardian of the constitution
Settles the disputes between the two
Judges acts according to the constitution
Legislature shall be by cameral- One
represents the states and the other the people

25. Merits
Suitable for big states
Meets local needs
Centre is free from Burden
Safeguards the interests of small states
Economic advantages to small units/states
Absence of despotism
Political Education possible

26. Limitations
Chances of conflicts
Expensive
Rigid constitution blocks progress
Lack of uniformity
Divided loyalty
Weaker than unitary