presidentialism
Chief executive dominance
Presidentialism is a system of government in which executive power is vested in a president who is elected independently of the legislature and serves a fixed term.
The president is both head of state and head of government, unlike parliamentary systems where executive authority derives from legislative confidence.
The United States exemplifies presidentialism; most Latin American democracies follow similar models.
Political scientists debate whether presidentialism produces more stable governance or greater risk of deadlock between branches.
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- executive branchGovernment's implementing arm
- veto powerAuthority to reject decisions
- impeachmentCharging officials with misconduct
judicial review · term limits · constitutional court · executive order · coattail effect · divided government · gridlock · deadlock
Voting without intermediaries
- popular voteTotal of citizen votes
- electoral collegeIntermediary voting delegation system
- runoffExcess water drainage
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
legitimacy · campaigns · primaries · inauguration · transition · lame duck · reelection · incumbency
Emphasis on subjective experience
Unifying control in one place
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- ministersReligious leaders or officials
- appointmentsScheduled times for meetings
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
administration · policy-making · agenda-setting · patronage · spoils system · chief of state · commander-in-chief · head of government
Government accountable to legislature
- WestminsterLondon's political center
- coalition governmentMultiparty cooperative administration
- prime ministerLeader of a parliamentary state
- confidence voteLegislative approval assessment
separation of powers
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- executive branchGovernment's implementing arm
- veto powerAuthority to reject decisions
impeachment · judicial review · term limits · constitutional court · executive order · coattail effect · divided government · gridlock · deadlock · constitutional crisis
direct election
Voting without intermediaries
- popular voteTotal of citizen votes
- electoral collegeIntermediary voting delegation system
- runoffExcess water drainage
mandate · legitimacy · campaigns · primaries · inauguration · transition · lame duck · reelection · incumbency · candidacy
personalism
Emphasis on subjective experience
centralization
Unifying control in one place
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- ministersReligious leaders or officials
- appointmentsScheduled times for meetings
bureaucracy · administration · policy-making · agenda-setting · patronage · spoils system · chief of state · commander-in-chief · head of government · executive privilege
parliamentarism
Government accountable to legislature
- WestminsterLondon's political center
- coalition governmentMultiparty cooperative administration
- prime ministerLeader of a parliamentary state
presidentialismparliamentarism
Government accountable to legislature
parliamentary system · parliamentary democracy · parliamentary government · constitutional monarchy
president, presidential, presidents, presidency, presidencies, preside, presides, presided, presiding