Key Characteristics Of The Parliamentary System: The Key Features Of Parliamentary System

CHAPTER TWO

CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

2.1 Key Features of Parliamentary System

In the parliamentary system the chief executive of the state (Prime Minister) is not elected directly by the people, but he is normally the leader of the majority party in the Parliament. He chooses his own Cabinet which again, normally should be out of the Parliament only.

The entire Cabinet is accountable to the Parliament and as soon as it loses confidence of the Parliament, it has to resign from the, office. As against this, in the Presidential system, the chief executive i.e. the President is elected directly by the people for a fixed term and he chooses his own ministers (called 'secretaries' in the U.S.). Neither the President nor the

This is the reason why the parliament is also known as the legislature. However, the function of legislation of parliament requires both capacity and cooperation. In other words, effective legislation rests on two pillars: Parliamentarians need to have the required expertise and support to make effective and fair laws and there must be a sense of minimum cooperation within parliament and between parliament and the Executive, in particular as regards the sensitive issue of state. Ellen argues that as a matter of fact laws must be efficient and effective. Most laws are written by government departments and introduced into the parliament by government ministers. In most parliamentary systems, the function of law making in parliament entails, among others, the following: Establish parliamentary committees on specific subjects (e.g. on health, education, budget, Corruption, etc.) and, if necessary, increase their powers; Make sure that committees have enough time (and resources) to make them familiar with the issues to be decided, including support staff; Provide expertise from within parliament (Library, research units) and allow for outside research facilities, including use of modern technology; Train new MPs and staff on their rights and duties, including on pertinent subjects (e.g. on the budget); Draft a code of conduct for all MPs

Examples of such structural changes could include setting up special parliamentary committees that help raise awareness of specific issues (gender, equal opportunities for men and women, disables, children and minority rights, environment, climate change, etc). Such parliamentary committees could have varying mandates, including looking inwards at the working of the parliament without the presence of the interested groups. In addition, they could also hold hearings around the country, enabling less mobile sections of the community, including women with family responsibilities, to participate without the costs of