There are two main forms of democratic government: the presidential system and the parliamentary system. In a presidential system, the head of state and head of government are the same person and there is a separation of powers between the executive and legislature. Key features include fixed terms for the president and independence from the legislature. Parliamentary systems have the legislature as the supreme governing body, with the executive deriving power from and being accountable to the legislature. Key features include collective cabinet responsibility and the potential for more frequent changes of government. The document compares some merits and demerits of each system.

1. Forms of Democratic Government
There are basically two forms of democratic government systems.
1-Presidential System of Government
2-Parliamentary System of Government

2. Presidential System of Government
In a presidential system, the head of government leads an executive that is distinct from
the legislature. Here the head of government and the head of the state are the one and
the same.
The following countries have presidential systems Afghanistan, Brazil, Central African
Republic, Colombia, Angola etc

3. Features
1-There is a separation of powers in the presidential government.
2-In the presidential government, the president is the head of government
and head of the state.
3-In Presidential government, president enjoys all the powers which are
given to him under the constitution or the law.
4-In the presidential government the president and the secretaries are not
responsible to the legislature.
5-In the presidential government, the president is elected for a fixed tenure
and except impeachment for the violation of the constitution he cannot be
removed before the expiry of his term.

4. Merits
1-It makes the government stable.
2-The system is more suitable for the emergencies.
3-It leads to efficiency in the administration
4-Less influence of parties
5-This type of government is based on the theory of separation of powers.
6-More suitable for multiparty system.

5. Demerits
1-In this system president enjoys wide powers and he can have his own way.
2- Sometime it leads to non-cooperation between the executive and legislature.
3-In this system the government is not responsible for the daily administration to the
parliament.
4-The constitution is rigid and it becomes difficult to make the amendment with
changing circumstances.

6. Parliamentary System of Government
In a parliamentary system the legislature is the supreme governing body. The
executive derives its power form the legislature. The legislature constitute mostly
the representative of the people.
The parliamentary government is functional in Britain, Denmark, Austria, India,
Japan.

7. Features
1. Stable majority
2. Collective Responsibility
3. Individual Responsibility
4. Membership of Parliament
5. Leadership of the Prime minister
6. Political Homogeneity
7. Secrecy
8. Mutual toleration between Political Parties
9. Right of executive to dissolve the legislature

8. Merits
1. Co-operation between Parliament and the cabinet
2. Responsible Government
3. The Government does not become autocratic
4. It is more educative
5. More adjustable according to changing circumstances
6. Head of the state is impartial
7. Parliamentary government is responsive to public opinion
8. It has changed absolute monarchy into democracy
9. The ministers get the chance to show their ability and worth
10. This system provides for an alternate government

9. Demerits
1. There is chance of dictatorship of cabinet
2. The government becomes unstable if the ruling party does not get an absolute
majority
3. Frequency in change of government leads to uncertainty
4. Formation of government becomes difficult in multiparty
5. This system is against the theory of separation of power
6. This system leads to perpetual conflict
7. Sometimes national interest is sacrificed for party interest
8. Much of the time is wasted in discussion during war and emergency
9. Minister pay more attention to the politics than administration
10. In this system the bureaucracy acquires undue influence

10. Parliamentary System Vs Presidential System
Executive Dual executive Single executive
Accountability The executive is accountable to
the legislature .
The executive is not
accountable to the legislature.
Powers Concentrated Divided
Tenure of Executive Not fixed
Fixed
Basis Parliamentary Presidential