Parliamentary form of

Government

INTRODUCTION
In a Parliamentary system, the legislature is the supreme
governing body. The executive derives its power
form the legislature. The legislature constitute mostly
the representative of the people.
The parliamentary government is functional in Britain,
Denmark, Austria, India, Japan.

FEATURES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Stable Majority
Collective Responsibility
Individual Responsibility
Membership of Parliament
Leadership of the Prime Minister
Political Homogeneity
Secrecy
Mutual toleration between Political Parties
Right of the Executive to dissolve the legislature

MERITS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Co-operation between Parliament and the cabinet

Responsible Government
The Government does not become autocratic
It is more educative
More adjustable according to changing circumstances
Head of the state is impartial
Parliamentary government is responsive to public
opinion
It has changed absolute monarchy into democracy
The ministers get the chance to show their ability and
worth
This system provides for an alternate government

DEMERITS
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

9.
10.

There is chance of dictatorship of cabinet

The government becomes unstable if the ruling party does
not get an absolute majority
Frequency in change of government leads to uncertainty
Formation of government becomes difficult in multiparty
This system is against the theory of separation of power
This system leads to perpetual conflict
Sometimes national interest is sacrificed for party interest
Much of the time is wasted in discussion during war and
emergency
Minister pay more attention to the politics than
administration
In this system the bureaucracy acquires undue influence

CONCLUSION

Although there are certain merits and demerits of the

parliamentary system of government but this type of
government is always better as the cabinet is
responsible to the government.