In chapter 12, the author poses a critical thinking challenge on systems of executive leadership.

In chapter 12, the author poses a critical thinking challenge on systems of executive leadership. The author states:

In writing the U.S. Constitution, the framers created the first of what today is called a presidential system. Executive authority rests with the president, while legislative authority is vested in the Congress.

Later on, when democratic revolutions swept through European nations, they chose not to copy the American model. They adopted instead parliamentary systems where the prime minister is head of both the executive and legislative branches. In a presidential system, the voters separately chose the president and the legislative members. In a parliamentary system, the voters chose the legislative members who, in turn, select a prime minister.

Presidents depend on Congress to enact their legislative initiatives, and Congress’s support is not guaranteed. In contrast, prime ministers, as the head of the legislative branch as well as of the executive branch, can usually count on legislative backing. Prime ministers are chosen by the majority party’s members, who have the votes required to enact the prime minister’s proposals. A few examples among the many parliamentary democracies are CanadaLinks to an external site., Great BritainLinks to an external site., ItalyLinks to an external site., JapanLinks to an external site., LatviaLinks to an external site., the NetherlandsLinks to an external site., and New ZealandLinks to an external site..

Which executive leadership would you prefer — a presidential system, in which the chief executive heads only the executive branch, or a parliamentary system, in which the chief executive heads both the executive and the legislative branches? Research political parties in the noted parliamentary democracies listed. In the U.S., we have two dominant political parties, is the same true for parliamentary democracies? Can you elaborate on your viewpoint?

Please remember the course academic standards outlined in Discussion Forum ‘Netiquette’. Rubric for the assignment, 30-point potential: