Presidential vs Parliamentary Democracy

Three Branches of Government

Executive -

Enforce Laws

Legislative -
Make Laws

Judicial -
Test Laws
(Courts)

Parliamentary Democracy

Voters

Legislative Branch

Parliament

Prime Minister
Chief Executive
Head of Government

ELECT

APPOINTS

Parliamentary Democracy

The Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch are together.

Step 1: Citizens elect members of the Legislative Branch - These people are
known as members of Parliament

Step 2: Members of Parliament meet and decide who from among them would
be the best leader & that person becomes the one who runs their meetings

Step 3: The leader of Parliament becomes known as the Prime Minister and
is responsible for the job of the Executive Branch & being part of the
Legislative branch

Parliamentary Democracy

Legislative Branch = Parliament

Head of Executive Branch = Prime Minister

Although not chosen directly by the people the Prime
Minister was elected for office and then other elected

officials gave him/her more responsibilities.

Presidential Democracy

Voters

Legislative Branch

Executive Branch

President

Chief Executive

Head of Government

ELECT

ELECT

Presidential Democracy

Step 1: Citizens elect members of the Legislative Branch - these
people are know as Members of Congress (United States)

Step 2: Citizens elect a man or woman in a separate election to be
head of the executive branch- President

Step 3: The 2 separate branches keep tabs on one another while
working together to get their jobs done - called checks and balances

Presidential Democracy

Legislative Branch = Congress

The Congress of the United States has 2 branches:
House of Representatives and the Senate

Members of Congress called - Senator or Representative

Head of the Executive branch = President

Checks and Balances = Way to make sure neither branch gets too
powerful