Features of Parliamentary Form of General Government12

Features of Parliamentary Form of General
Government
Parliamentary Form of Government is the system of government in which there exists
an intimate relationship between the executive and the legislative departments, and the
stability and efficacy of the executive department depend on the legislature.
Although the parliamentary government is broadly defined in the above way, in such a
system the supremacy of the legislature has now been replaced by the supremacy of
the Cabinet. Hence, such form of government is also called Cabinet Government.
This form of government exists in countries like Britain, India and Canada. The Features
of Parliamentary Form of Government has been discussed below:
Features
1. Existence of a Titular or Constitutional Ruler: The first characteristic feature of the
parliamentary system is the existence of a Titular of Constitutional Ruler. Legally the
administration of all the affairs of the state is conducted by the head of the state. In
reality, however, the administration is carried on in his name by the Council of
Ministers. He is the head of the state, but not the head of the government.
2. Absence of Separation of Powers: In the parliamentary system the principle of
separation of powers is not adopted. Here the three departments of government
work in close, intimate contact, sharing some of the powers and functions of one
another.
3. Main Role of the Lower House in Ministry-formation: In the parliamentary
government the lower house of the legislature, i.e., the popular chamber plays a vital
role in the formation of the ministry. The leader of the party or alliance which wins
the majority in this house is appointed the Prime Minister or Chancellor. The
constitutional ruler appoints the other members of the ministry on his advice.
4. Responsibility to the Legislature: In such a system the Cabinet or Ministry has to
remain responsible to the legislature for all its activities and policies. In countries having
bi-cameral legislatures, the Cabinet remains responsible to the lower house composed
of the peoples representatives.
5. Collective Responsibility: The ministerial responsibility to the legislature may again
be of two kinds:
Individual responsibility, and
Collective responsibility.
Individual responsibility means that the minister in charge of a department must be

answerable for the activities of his department. But when the ministers remain jointly or
collectively responsible to the legislature for the policies and activities of the
government, it is called collective responsibility. Since no individual minister can
unilaterally perform any business of government without the consent of the Cabinet, the
entire Ministry or Cabinet has to remain accountable for the errors of the minister
concerned.
6. Intimate relationship between the Legislature and the Executive: In the
parliamentary system an intimate relationship exists between the executive and the
legislative departments. So they can easily control each other. The leaders of the
majority party or alliance in the legislature become the members of the Cabinet or
Ministry. Naturally, the ministers can easily extend their influence on the legislature.
Consequently, the programs and policies of the Cabinet are backed by a majority inside
the legislature.
7. Leadership of the Prime Minister: The leadership of the Prime Minister is another
major feature of the parliamentary system. The leader of the majority party in the
legislature becomes the Prime Minister. Though, in theory, he is primus inter pares, i.e.
first among equals, in reality, he possesses much greater power and status than the
other ministers. As the undisputed leader of the majority party or alliance in the
legislature he plays the most vital role in the determination and execution of government
policies. Indeed, the success of parliamentary democracy depends, to a great extent, on
the personality, efficiency and charisma of the Prime Minister.
8. Existence of a Strong Opposition: The existence of one or more strong and wellorganized opposition party or parties is the hall-mark of the parliamentary system. By
criticizing the errors of the government, the opposition can compel it to adopt welfare
measures and prevent it from becoming despotic. Judged from this angle, the
opposition can be called the life-force of parliamentary democracy.
9. Cabinet Dictatorship: In the parliamentary system of government the cabinet has to
perform manifold functions. It is the Cabinet which:
formulates well-considered policies of the Government after reviewing both the

national and international issues,
takes necessary, arrangements for passing laws to implement the policies

formulated by it,
determines the matters to be included in the agenda of the central legislature,
controls and directs the administrative departments so that laws, Government

orders, etc. are to be implemented properly,
co-ordinates the activities of different departments of the Government,
prepares the draft budget in consultation with the Prime Minister and takes
necessary initiative to get it passed in the legislature,
formulates economic policies and takes necessary steps for implementing the
same,
advices the constitutional head to take necessary action during emergency or

unforeseen situation, etc.
In this way the Cabinet acts as the keystone of the political arch or has become the
steering wheel of the ship of fact of the state. In fact, in the parliamentary system of
government as the cabinet members are the leaders of the majority party or alliance in
the legislature and the head of the state is nothing but a magnificent cipher, the Cabinet
under the leadership of the Prime Minister has virtually become dictator.

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Features of Parliamentary Form of General Government12

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Features of Parliamentary Form of General

Individual responsibility, and

Individual responsibility means that the minister in charge of a department must be

formulates well-considered policies of the Government after reviewing both the

takes necessary, arrangements for passing laws to implement the policies

determines the matters to be included in the agenda of the central legislature,

controls and directs the administrative departments so that laws, Government

co-ordinates the activities of different departments of the Government,

advices the constitutional head to take necessary action during emergency or

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