Parliamentary vs. Presidential Democracy Explained

Summary

This script explores the contrasting democratic systems of the United States and the United Kingdom, highlighting the unique features of the Presidential and Parliamentary systems. It details the electoral process, the roles of the President and Prime Minister, the legislative and judicial branches, and the checks and balances in place. The summary also touches on the differences in the Head of State and the mechanisms for removing a leader from office, providing a clear comparison of these influential government models.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ The United States uses an electoral college system for presidential elections, where states award electors based on population, and a candidate needs 270 to win.
• 🏛️ In the UK, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons during a General Election, with no term limits.
• 🎖️ The US President appoints cabinet officers subject to Senate confirmation, whereas the UK Prime Minister appoints cabinet members without confirmation, from the House of Commons or House of Lords.
• 🏢 The US President shares law-making power with Congress, which consists of the House and Senate, and can veto legislation, which Congress can override with a two-thirds majority.
• 🏛️ The UK Parliament's legislative process involves both the elected House of Commons and the appointed House of Lords, with the latter serving as an unelected check.
• 📜 The US Supreme Court, with nine lifetime-tenured justices, is the highest court and determines the constitutionality of laws, while the UK's Supreme Court, established in 2009, has less power.
• 🏰 The US President is both the Head of Government and the Head of State, living at the White House, and is the official representative to the world, with some ceremonial duties handled by the Secretary of State.
• 👑 In the UK, the Monarch is the official Head of State with many legal powers but limited practical influence, while the Prime Minister effectively runs the country and meets regularly with the Monarch.
• 📝 The US President delivers a State of the Union Address to Congress and the nation, outlining governing priorities, and faces a referendum on their performance during midterm elections.
• 🗳️ The UK Prime Minister can be removed from office through a no confidence vote or by losing a budget vote, leading to a General Election.
• ⚖️ Both the US and UK systems have checks and balances, with the US President subject to impeachment by the House and trial by the Senate, while the UK Prime Minister can be challenged by the House of Commons.

Q & A

What are the two main systems of democratic government explained in the script?

The script explains the Presidential and Parliamentary systems of democratic government.

Which two countries' democratic systems are focused on in the script?

The script focuses on the United States and the United Kingdom as examples of the Presidential and Parliamentary systems, respectively.

How does the U.S. elect its President?

The U.S. elects its President through an electoral college system, where each state has a number of electors based on its population, and a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.

What is unique about the U.S. electoral college system?

The U.S. is the only country to use an electoral college system, where the overall nationwide vote does not directly determine the winner.

How is the Prime Minister of the UK chosen?

The Prime Minister of the UK is the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the General Election, which occurs every five years.

What is the term limit for the U.S. President?

The U.S. President is limited to two four-year terms in office by the constitution.

What is the role of the U.S. President's cabinet officers?

The cabinet officers in the U.S. are appointed by the President to run the various departments of the executive branch of government and must be confirmed by the Senate.

How does the legislative process differ between the U.S. and the UK?

In the U.S., both houses of Congress must pass a bill, which then requires the President's signature to become law, whereas in the UK, both the elected House of Commons and the unelected House of Lords must agree on a bill for it to become law.

What is the role of the Supreme Court in the U.S.?

The Supreme Court in the U.S. is the court of last appeal and decides if state and federal laws are legal under the constitution.

What is the difference between the American President and the UK Monarch in terms of their roles as Head of State?

The American President is both the Head of Government and the Head of State, while the UK Monarch is the official Head of State, but the day-to-day running of the country is done by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

How can a President be removed from office in the U.S.?

A President can be removed from office through impeachment, which involves the House of Representatives bringing charges and the Senate holding a trial that requires a 2/3 majority vote to convict.

What is the significance of the State of the Union Address in the U.S.?

The State of the Union Address is an annual event where the President outlines their governing priorities to a joint session of Congress and the nation.

How does the UK's system allow for the Prime Minister to be challenged?

The Prime Minister can be challenged in the UK through a no confidence vote in the House of Commons or by losing a vote on a budget, which can lead to a General Election.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Comparative Analysis of Democratic Systems

This paragraph provides an in-depth comparison between the Presidential and Parliamentary systems of democratic government, with a focus on the United States and the United Kingdom. It explains the electoral process in the U.S., including the unique electoral college system, and contrasts it with the direct election of representatives in the UK. The roles of the President and Prime Minister are delineated, including their term limits and the process of appointing cabinet members. The legislative process in both countries is also detailed, highlighting the separation of powers in the U.S. and the complex structure of the UK Parliament, which includes both elected and appointed officials. Additionally, the paragraph touches on the judicial branch in the U.S., the role of the Monarch in the UK, and the ceremonial and executive functions of both heads of state.

05:03

🗽 Removal from Office and System Responsiveness

The second paragraph delves into the mechanisms for removing a President or Prime Minister from office. It outlines the impeachment process in the U.S., where charges are brought by the House of Representatives and tried by the Senate, requiring a two-thirds majority for conviction. In contrast, the UK has a no-confidence vote mechanism that can lead to a General Election if the Prime Minister loses support in the House of Commons. The paragraph also discusses the differences in executive power between the President and the Prime Minister, with the latter sharing power with the Monarch. It notes the UK's less responsive legislature due to the House of Lords and longer election intervals, and the relative ease of forcing a Prime Minister out of office compared to a President. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with related content and credits the video's contributors.

Keywords

💡Democratic System

A democratic system is a form of government where power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through freely elected representatives. In the context of the video, it refers to the two main types of democratic governments: Presidential and Parliamentary. The video uses the United States and the United Kingdom as examples to illustrate these systems, highlighting their differences and influence on other countries.

💡Presidential System

The Presidential system is a democratic system where the president is the head of state and government, elected separately from the legislature. The video explains that in the U.S., the president is elected every four years through an electoral college system, which is unique to the United States and not a direct reflection of the popular vote.

💡Parliamentary System

A Parliamentary system is a democratic form of government where the executive branch derives its legitimacy from, and is accountable to, the legislature. The video describes the UK system, where the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons and serves without term limits, forming the government.

💡Electoral College

The Electoral College is the mechanism used in the United States for electing the president and vice president. It consists of electors who are chosen based on the population of each state. The video points out that the U.S. is the only country with such a system, where the candidate who wins the majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) becomes president, not necessarily the one with the most nationwide votes.

💡House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of the UK Parliament, consisting of 650 members elected from geographic constituencies. As explained in the video, these representatives form the basis of the UK's legislative body, with the leader of the majority party becoming the Prime Minister.

💡Prime Minister

The Prime Minister is the head of government in a parliamentary system, responsible for overseeing the cabinet and setting government policy. The video notes that in the UK, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the General Election and has no term limits, unlike the U.S. President.

💡Cabinet

A Cabinet is a body of high-level government officials, typically the main ministers of state, who in a presidential system must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the legislative branch. The video explains that in the U.S., the President appoints 15 cabinet officers, while in the UK, the Prime Minister appoints cabinet members without confirmation, but they must be serving members of Parliament.

💡Legislative Branch

The legislative branch of government is responsible for making laws. In the U.S., this is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The video illustrates that both chambers must pass a bill for it to become law, with the President having the power to veto, which can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both houses.

💡Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court in a judicial system, with the power to interpret laws and determine their constitutionality. The video mentions that in the U.S., the Supreme Court consists of nine members nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serving life terms, and has the role of the court of last appeal.

💡Head of State

The Head of State is the highest-ranking constitutional position in a country, often a monarch or president, who represents the nation in its dealings with other countries. The video explains that in the U.S., the President serves as both the Head of State and the Head of Government, while in the UK, the Monarch is the official Head of State, with the Prime Minister effectively serving as the Head of Government.

💡Impeachment

Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body brings charges against a high-ranking official, such as a president, for alleged crimes or serious misconduct. The video describes the U.S. process, where the House of Representatives can impeach a President by bringing charges, after which the Senate holds a trial to determine guilt, requiring a two-thirds majority to remove the President from office.

💡No Confidence Vote

A no confidence vote is a parliamentary motion expressing the lack of confidence in a person or a government. The video explains that in the UK, if the House of Commons passes a no confidence vote against the Prime Minister, it can trigger a General Election, serving as a mechanism to hold the Prime Minister accountable.

Highlights

The United States and the United Kingdom have democratic systems that are on opposite ends of the spectrum and are highly influential globally.

In the U.S., the president is elected every four years through an electoral college system, not a direct nationwide vote.

The U.S. electoral college allocates electors to states based on population, with 270 needed to win the presidency.

The U.S. Constitution limits the President to two four-year terms.

In the UK, representatives are directly elected by constituents to form the House of Commons, with a Prime Minister emerging from the majority party.

The UK Prime Minister has no term limits and forms the government after a General Election held every five years.

U.S. Presidents appoint 15 cabinet officers subject to Senate confirmation, while UK Prime Ministers appoint cabinet members without confirmation.

In the U.S., law creation involves both the President and Congress, with the President having the power to veto bills.

The U.S. Supreme Court, consisting of nine members, has the final say on the constitutionality of laws.

UK Parliament's legislative process involves both elected House of Commons and the unelected House of Lords, with the latter providing a check on the former.

The American President serves as both the Head of Government and the Head of State, with the Secretary of State often representing the country internationally.

The UK Monarch is the official Head of State but has limited powers, with the Prime Minister and Cabinet effectively running the country.

The UK Prime Minister can be forced out of office through a no confidence vote or a budget vote loss, unlike the U.S. President who can only be removed by impeachment.

The U.S. President delivers a State of the Union Address to Congress and the nation, outlining governing priorities.

Midterm elections in the U.S. serve as a referendum on the President's performance, potentially weakening their ability to enact their agenda.

UK Prime Ministers face weekly parliamentary questioning and debates, providing a televised platform for direct challenges from representatives.

Impeachment in the U.S. involves charges brought by the House of Representatives and a trial by the Senate, requiring a 2/3 vote for removal from office.

The UK's legislative system is less responsive to the people's will due to the House of Lords and longer election intervals.

A map in the video illustrates the global influence of American and British forms of government.

Transcripts

This is an explanation of the two main systems of democratic government: Presidential and

Parliamentary.

Around the world there are many variations of these two types, but we’re going to focus

on the United States and the United Kingdom because they exist on the opposite ends of

the democratic spectrum, and they’ve been the most influential to other countries around

the world.

Every four years the American people elect a president.

But it’s not a direct election where the winner of the overall nationwide vote wins

the White House.

The U.S. is the only country to have an electoral college system, where each state has a number

of electors based on the size of its relative population.

Every state, except Maine and Nebraska, awards all of their electors to the candidate that

received the most votes in that state, with an overall 270 needed to win.

This more complicated system exists to give the states a little more control over the

process.

The constitution limits the President to just two, four year terms in office.

In the UK, the people directly elect a representative from their geographic constituency, of which

there are a total of 650 throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

These representatives make up the house of commons in Parliament.

The leader of whichever party wins the most seats in this General Election, which occurs

every five years, becomes the Prime Minister, who has no term-limits.

The Prime Minister then forms a government.

The members of parliament from parties not in power are called the opposition.

Once inaugurated, the President appoints 15 cabinet officers to run the various departments

of the executive branch of government.

Nominees have to be confirmed by the Senate.

However, the Prime Minister’s appointments for the 21 different cabinet positions need

no confirmation, although they must be currently serving in either the House of Commons or

the House of Lords.

In the American Presidential system, the power to create laws is split between the President

and the Lower (the House) and Upper (the Senate) chambers of Congress.

In America, both houses of Congress must pass a version of a bill.

But, for a passed bill to become a law, the President must sign it.

If the President refuses, called a veto, the Congress can try and override the veto with

a 2/3ds majority vote in each Chamber.

The Congress is the second branch of the Federal government.

The third is the Supreme Court, a nine-member body, whose members are nominated by the President

and confirmed by the Senate, and serve life terms.

The Supreme Court is the court of last appeal and decides if state and federal laws are

legal under the constitution.

The legislative body is a bit more complicated in the UK’s Parliament, although it also

has an upper and a lower chamber.

Both the lower, elected House of Commons and the upper House of Lords make and shape the

laws, but the House of Lords isn’t elected and is made up of officials appointed by the

Queen, Bishops from the Church of England, and Hereditary peers, many of whom inherit

their positions.

Lords, play a wise-man’s role as an unelected check on decisions made by the House of Commons.

Bills are presented by the Prime Minister’s government, debated and changed by both Houses

in the Parliament, who must then both agree on a bill for it to become law.

A Supreme Court, with less power than the American version, was created in 2009.

In addition to being the Head of Government, the American president is also the Head of

State, and is the official representative of the country to the rest of the world, although

this role often falls to the president’s Secretary of State.

The President is the Commander-In-Chief of the military of the United States, although

only the Congress can formally declare war.

The President lives at the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of the

District of Columbia.

In the UK’s system, the Monarch is the official Head of State.

Legally, the Monarch still has many powers like giving final approval on all laws, but

in the reality of modern times, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet run the country.

The Prime Minister is also the Commander-In-Chief in all but name.

The Monarch still meets weekly with the Prime Minister and has the constitutional right

to “warn, encourage, and to be consulted.”

The ability of the Monarch to influence the decisions of the Prime Minister varies depending

on the relationship between the two leaders.

It’s worth noting here that that the current Queen of England, Elizabeth II has been on

the throne for 63 years and is 89 years old.

Her son, Charles, Prince of Wales is her heir apparent.

The Monarch resides in Buckingham Palace in London, while the Prime Minister lives at

10 Downing Street.

Once a year, the President delivers a State of the Union Address to the joint Congress

and the nation in which they lay out their governing priorities.

Since the members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years, the President

faces a referendum on their performance halfway through each term.

If their party loses seats in a midterm election, their ability to enact their agenda for the

rest of the term is weakened.

Every week the Prime Minister answers questions from other members of parliament while simultaneously

debating the leader of the opposition.

This is a televised way for the people’s representatives to directly challenge the

Prime Minister on a whole host of issues.

Besides resignation, the only way a President can be removed from office is impeachment,

which is done by the House of Representatives.

This is like a prosecutor bringing official charges against a defendant.

If a vote to confirm the charges passes the House, the President is “impeached.”

The Senate will then try the impeachment, but in order to convict, a 2/3ds vote must

be achieved by the Senators.

If this happens, which it never has in American history, the President is removed from office.

In the UK, if the House of Commons passes a no confidence vote in the Prime Minister

or if the Prime Minister’s party loses a vote on a budget, they are seen as politically

weakened and will call a General Election.

So that’s the basic differences between the American Presidential and UKs Parliamentary

system.

The President is the Chief Executive, while the Prime Minister -- who is also a member

of Parliament -- officially shares some power with the Monarch.

The UK’s legislature, because of the House of Lords and the longer time between elections,

is less responsive to the changing will of the people.

And it is slightly easier to force a Prime Minister out of office than a President.

You can see from this map how many countries have been influenced by the American and British

forms of government.

Thanks for watching.

Like this video to help it spread.

You can watch our explanation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by clicking the link on the screen,

or check out our visualization of the top ten immigrant countries in the world.

For The Daily Conversation, I’m Bryce Plank.

This video was edited by Brendan Plank.

Until next time.