The Parliamentary form of government has its own merits and demerits. The main merits and demerits of the parliamentary form of government are coordination between Legislature and Executive, Flexibility of the government and Instability of the government, no strict separation of powers respectively. As the merits outweigh the demerits, the Indian Constitution makers choose the Parliamentary System of Government. In this article, we will see what is a parliamentary form of government and what are its merits and demerits.

What is a Parliamentary system of government?

• The parliamentary system of government holds the executive accountable to the legislature for its policies and actions.
• The President and the Council of Ministers, with the Prime Minister at the helm, make up the executive. The President serves as the government’s nominal executive, but the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers serve as the real executive.

Merits of Parliamentary Form Of Government

Cooperation between the executive and legislative branches:

• The executive is part of the legislature under a Parliamentary system, and the dominant party usually has a grip in parliament, making it easier to pass and enforce laws and policies.
• The parliamentary system, as opposed to the presidential system, allows for a lot more coordination because the government's departments are rigidly segregated from one another.
• Because the party has a majority in the lower chamber, the likelihood of disagreements and confrontation is minimized.

Responsible Government:

• 'Responsible government' is another term for the Parliamentary system of government.
• All other members of the legislature address issues that are of public concern and national importance.
• This approach can be used to keep tabs on the government's operations.
• The opposition must be powerful enough to call out the prevailing government's errors and inefficiencies to ensure accountability.

Diverse Representation:

• People from various backgrounds, ethnicities, faiths, races, and genders live in many countries across the world.
• Because every group is represented in the legislature, the parliamentary system is best equipped to accommodate all of these various groupings.
• As a result, the interests and desires of numerous groups can be discussed on a large platform, and a more effective solution can be developed.

Flexibility:

• In contrast to the Presidential system, where the President usually remains for the entire term and can only be replaced through impeachment or incapacity, which is a lengthy process, the Prime Minister can be removed from power quickly.
• If the ruling party's promises made before the elections are not kept, parliament may vote a no-confidence resolution, allowing the government to be dismissed.

Check on Authoritarianism:

• In the Presidential System, power is concentrated primarily in the hands of the President. He has the authority to appoint cabinet members.
• In the Parliamentary system, on the other hand, power is shared among the council of ministers, and the ruling party does not become all-powerful; the government can resign if a vote of no confidence is passed against it.
• There are numerous institutions that keep an eye on the government's operations.

Demerits of Parliamentary Form Of Government

Poor separation of powers:

• Because this system lacks a full division of powers, the legislature cannot always blame the administration for policy failures.
• Especially when the government has a legislative majority.
• Furthermore, due to anti-defection rules, legislators are unable to exert their willpower and vote according to their understanding and ideas.
• They must evaluate and adhere to the party whip.

Unqualified Legislature:

• Many times, those who only desire to fill executive roles end themselves in the legislature as well.
• They aren't even qualified for their positions or aren't familiar with them.
• The majority of them are unfamiliar with their own country's laws.

Instability:

• In comparison to the Presidential system, the Parliamentary system is less stable because the government can fall at any time.
• The government does not have a definite term. The administration will be replaced as soon as a no-confidence resolution is passed in the House of Commons.

Inability to make a quick judgment:

• Because of the system's instability, the government doesn’t make quick judgments in times of crisis. The government is afraid of making big, long-term decisions.
• This could have an impact on the country's and people's well-being.

Politics of Parties and non-continuation of policies:

• Politics is especially visible in the parliamentary system when legislators are motivated by self-interest rather than national interest.
• When different political Parties come to power they try to ignore previous government policies.

Conclusion

Every system, whether presidential or parliamentary, has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the government of a given country to choose the system that is most suited to their needs. Because every country is unique in terms of its structure, people, and culture, it is critical to understand the country's needs.

FAQs

Question: What is the Parliamentary form of government?

Question: What is a key feature of the Parliamentary form of government?

Question: How is the Prime Minister chosen in a Parliamentary government?

Question: What are the merits of a Parliamentary form of government?

Question: What are the demerits of a Parliamentary form of government?

MCQs

1. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of the Parliamentary form of government?

a) Separation of powers

b) Fusion of powers

c) Direct election of the President

d) Federalism

2. Who is the nominal head in a Parliamentary system of government?

a) Prime Minister

b) President

c) Speaker

d) Chief Justice

3. Which of the following is a demerit of the Parliamentary system?

a) Stable government

b) Accountability to the legislature

c) Frequent elections

d) Strong executive

4. How is the Prime Minister selected in a Parliamentary form of government?

a) By direct election

b) By the President

c) By the legislature

d) By the judiciary

5. Which of the following is NOT a feature of the Parliamentary form of government?

a) Collective responsibility

b) Single executive

c) Fixed tenure for the executive

d) Cabinet accountability

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the advantages of the Parliamentary system in ensuring democratic accountability.

Answer: The Parliamentary system promotes accountability as the executive is directly responsible to the legislature. The government must have the confidence of the majority of the legislative body, ensuring that it remains answerable to the representatives of the people. This system also allows for a more dynamic relationship between the legislature and executive, enabling quick decisions when necessary. The Prime Minister and the cabinet can be removed by a vote of no confidence, making the system highly responsive to the legislature.

Q2: Examine the challenges posed by the Parliamentary system in maintaining stable governments.

Answer: The Parliamentary system, while promoting accountability, often leads to government instability, particularly in fragmented political landscapes. In cases where no party gains a majority, coalition governments are formed, which can be unstable and prone to frequent collapses. This may result in frequent elections and policy paralysis. Furthermore, the system’s dependence on legislative support can limit the executive's ability to take bold or unpopular decisions, which may be necessary for long-term national interests.

Q3: Critically assess the fusion of powers in a Parliamentary system and its implications for governance.

Answer: The fusion of powers in the Parliamentary system, where the executive is drawn from the legislature, promotes efficiency in governance by reducing friction between the two branches. It ensures smooth coordination in policy-making and implementation. However, this fusion can also lead to the dominance of the legislature over the executive, reducing the autonomy of the government. Moreover, this can result in executive decisions being overly influenced by political considerations, leading to short-term populism rather than long-term policy planning.

Previous Year Questions on Merits and Demerits of Parliamentary Form Of Government 

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2017:

Question: Which of the following is a feature of the Parliamentary form of government?

A. Presidential veto

B. Fixed tenure of the executive

C. Collective responsibility

D. Separation of powers

Answer: C

Explanation: Collective responsibility is a key feature of a Parliamentary system, where the entire cabinet is responsible to the legislature for its actions.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2016 (GS Paper 2):

Question: Discuss the merits and demerits of the Parliamentary system in ensuring democratic governance.

Answer: The merits of the Parliamentary system include accountability, as the executive is responsible to the legislature, and flexibility, allowing governments to be dissolved if they lose confidence. This system promotes cooperation between the executive and legislature, leading to faster decision-making. However, the system can also lead to frequent elections and government instability, particularly in cases of fragmented legislatures, where no party holds a majority. It can also lead to the dominance of the executive by the legislature, which may hinder independent decision-making.

3. UPSC CSE Prelims 2018:

Question: Which of the following is a demerit of the Parliamentary system?

A. Political stability

B. Weak executive

C. Fixed tenure of the government

D. Presidential veto

Answer: B

Explanation: One of the criticisms of the Parliamentary system is that the executive is dependent on the confidence of the legislature, which can sometimes result in a weak or unstable government.