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nducted through a
unicameral (one-
chamber) or bicameral (two-
chamber) parliament
composed of members
accountable to the people they
represent. A prime minister and
the ministers of
several executive
departments of the
government primarily carry
out the
executive function
The parliamentary government
is also called as the Cabinet
government due to
concentration of executive
powers in the cabinet. Articles
74 and 75 deals with
the parliamentary system at the
centre and Article 163 and
article 164 deals with
the Parliamentary system at
the states. Countries around
the world practice
democracy through different
types of institutions. However,
most democracies in
the world today use the
parliamentary system as
opposed to a presidential system
like that used in the
United States.

Parliamentary
Democracy in
India
Introduction
Parliamentary Democracy in India Introduction

Parliamentary government is a Democratic government in which the political party with the
most seats in the legislature or Parliament during the federal election becomes the government.
India has a parliamentary form of government similar to that of the United Kingdom.
A parliamentary system of government is one in which the administration and legislature are
practically closed to each other and their powers are split. As a result, the Parliament is a
superior concept.

Parliamentary Form of Government – Concept

 A parliamentary system, often known as parliamentary democracy, is a form of
democratic administration in which the executive gains political legitimacy by
commanding the support ("confidence") of the legislative, usually a parliament, to
whom it is accountable.
 The head of state in a parliamentary system is generally separate from the head
of government.
 It is in contrast to a presidential system, in which the head of state is frequently
also the head of government and, more significantly, the executive does not get
democratic legitimacy from the legislative.
 Parliamentary government, also known as a cabinet government, responsible
government, or the Westminster model of government, is popular in the United
Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and India.

Parliamentary Form of Government- Historical

Background
 There have been councils or a headman whose judgments were appraised by
village elders since ancient times when civilizations were tribal. These councils
eventually transformed into the contemporary parliamentary system.
 The first parliaments were established in Europe during the Middle Ages, with
Alfonso IX, King of Leon (Spain), convening the three states in the Cortes of
León in 1188.
 During the Dutch rebellion (1581), when the States-General of the Netherlands
took over the sovereign, legislative, and executive powers from the king, King
Philip II of Spain, an early form of parliamentary governance arose in today's
Netherlands and Belgium.
 Between 1707 and 1800, the modern notion of parliamentary governance
originated in the United Kingdom, and between 1721 and 1772, the
Parliamentary System in Sweden.
 In the years following World War I, democracy and parliamentarism were
increasingly popular in Europe.

Characteristics
Parliamentary Form of Government- Characteristics
 A parliamentary system can be bicameral (meaning there are two chambers of
parliament) or unicameral (meaning there is just one chamber of parliament).
  A bicameral parliament generally consists of a lower house that is directly elected
and has the authority to choose the executive administration, as well as an upper
chamber that is appointed or elected through a different procedure than the lower
house.

ArendLijphart, a democracy scholar, distinguishes between two forms of parliamentary

democracies: Westminster and Consensus.

Westminster System

 The Westminster system is most commonly seen in Commonwealth countries

and countries inspired by British political traditions.
 These parliaments feature a more combative discussion style, with the plenary
session of parliament taking precedence over committees.
 Some parliaments under this paradigm, such as the United Kingdom, Canada,
and Malaysia, are elected using a plurality voting system (first past the post),
while others, like Ireland and New Zealand, utilize some kind of proportional
representation.

Consensus system

 The Western European parliamentary style (for example, Spain and Germany)
features a more consensus debate procedure with semi-circular debating
chambers.
 Consensus systems are more likely than Westminster Model legislatures to
adopt proportional representation with open party lists.

Significance
Significance of Parliamentary Form of Government
 Coordination between the legislature and the executive: The most significant
feature of the parliamentary system is that it ensures a cordial connection and
collaboration between the legislative and executive parts of government.
 Responsible Government: By its very nature, the parliamentary system
produces accountable government. All actions of omission and conduct by
ministers must be reported to Parliament. Question hour, debates, adjournment
motions, no-confidence motions, and other methods are used by Parliament to
exercise control over ministers.
 Prevents Despotism: Under this system, executive power is assigned to a
group of persons (council of ministers) rather than a single person. The
executive's totalitarian tendencies are curtailed by this decentralization of power.
Furthermore, the executive is responsible to Parliament and can be dismissed by
a vote of no confidence.
 Wide Representation: In a parliamentary system, the executive is made up of a
group of persons (i.e., ministers who are representatives of the people). As a
consequence, all groups and areas of the country can be represented in the
 government. When choosing ministers, the prime minister can take this into
account.

Criticism
Criticism
 Members of parliament will become overly powerful, arrogant, and more
prone to misuse of power: While the parliamentary system appears to always
support good governance, it will also cause members of parliament to become
overly powerful, arrogant, and more likely to abuse political power.
 In other words, in a parliamentary form of governance, members of parliament
are supreme and untouchable.
 The Prime Minister is loyal to his party: In a parliamentary form of
government, the prime minister is typically devoted to his party rather than the
public since he is directly chosen as party leader and therefore becomes Prime
Minister. As a result, he will be more devoted to his party than to his people.
 Government uncertainty and instability: There is no question that with a
parliamentary form of government, the prime minister's term is always uncertain
since the parliament may fire him at any time with a "vote of no confidence".
 This might result in a crisis, segregation, or governance instability.
 Overburdening cabinet members with double functions: The integration of
legislative and executive powers in cabinet members may overload cabinet
members with double functions, and certain ministers may struggle to comply.
 It may also result in government inefficiency, as the convergence of powers and
responsibilities of the legislative and executive branches of government will be
too much for the cabinet to handle.
 Finally, while it is true that the parliamentary system requires fewer people to
manage both legislative and executive tasks, it is crucial to remember that a
minister may lack specialty in the art of governing in one arm of government,
resulting in inefficiency in that area.

Adopt
Why did India Adopt a Parliamentary form of
Government?
 Because we were familiar with its operation during British colonial rule, India
adopted the Parliamentary system of governance.
 The form of government that existed in India before independence was
remarkably similar to that of the United Kingdom.
 The British System had a strong effect on the authors of the Indian Constitution.
As a result, the members of the Constituent Assembly chose this style of
administration for India's independence.

Difference between the Parliamentary and Presidential forms of the Government

Difference between the Parliamentary and Presidential
forms of the Government
Parliamentary Form of Government Presidential Form of Government
 It is a type of government in which the
 It is a form of government in which the legislative
executive, judiciary, and legislature all
and executive branches are inextricably linked.
function separately.
 It is a type of governance in which voters elect
 The President is the main executive and is
legislative representatives.
elected directly by the people.

 The roles of dual executive as state and

 A single executive serves as both the head
government head are distinct.
of the state and the head of the
 Under parliamentary governance, the executive is
government.
divided into two parts: the Head of State
 The Presidential system of government is
(President) and the Head of Government (Prime
led by the President.
Minister).

 The Prime Minister is able to dissolve the lower  The President cannot dissolve the lower
house. house.

 Prime Minister’s tenure depends upon majority

 Fixed tenure for President.
support in the Parliament. Thus, it is not fixed.

 The principle of Separation of powers is

 No clear-cut separation of power.
strictly followed.

 Stronger party discipline  Party discipline is comparatively less

Ex: India and The United Kingdom Ex: Costa Rica and the United States