DEMOCRACY, GOVERNMENT

AND CONSTITUTION (PART II)

 Features of Presidential Forms of
Government

PRESEDENTIAL FEATURES
MERITS
DEMERITS
 Presidential Feature

The president is the real executive. There is no

nominal or ceremonial executive. All the powers are
vested in the hands of the president.
The powers of the three organs namely,
legislature, executive and judiciary are separated
and vested in different persons.
 Presidential Feature

Though the three organs of the government are

kept apart, they are also connected by the system
of checks and balances.
The tenure of the president is fixed. The tenure of
office cannot be lessened or increased under any
circumstances. President can be removed by the
legislature only by a process of impeachment.
 Merits

Stable government is possible.

There is continuous and consistent policy.

Highly suitable during the period of national crisis.

There is no chance for concentration of powers.

 Demerits
The Presidential executive is likely to be
authoritarian.
There is always the possibility of deadlocks
between the legislature and the executive.
It is not flexible form of government.
The Presidential executive finds it difficult to follow
a vigorous foreign policy, as there is no harmonious
relationship between the executive and the
legislature. The executive may follow a policy which
may not be acceptable to the legislature.
 The Role of the Different Branches of
Government

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Judicial Branch
 Executive Branch
Headed by the President.
The president carries out federal laws and
recommends new ones, makes the law official and
can declare a war against other country.
Directs national defense and foreign policy.
Commanding the Armed Forces.
Dealing with international powers.
 Legislative Branch
Headed by Congress, which includes the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
The main task of these two bodies is to make the
laws.
Its powers include passing laws, originating
spending bills (House), impeaching officials
(Senate), and approving treaties (Senate).
 Judicial Branch
Headed by the Supreme Court.
Interpret the Constitution and limit the powers of the
other branches of government.
The Supreme Court's power to do this is its power
of judicial review, where it determines which laws
and policies are constitutional, or allowable, and
which are not.