WAEC Government 2015 Theory — Question 6

Model answer

(i) Under the parliamentary system, there are two heads of the executive (Head of State and Head of Government); in the presidential system, one person (the President) performs the functions of both. (ii) In the parliamentary system, the Prime Minister and cabinet members are also members of parliament; this is not the case in a presidential system, where members of the executive cannot become members of parliament at the same time. (iii) Cabinet members under the parliamentary system are collectively responsible to parliament; in the presidential system, cabinet members are individually responsible to the President. (iv) Only elected party members can be appointed as ministers under a cabinet (parliamentary) system, whereas in a presidential system, the President is free to appoint ministers both within and outside of political party lines.