How Do Presidential Systems Differ from Parliamentary Systems? Which System Does South Africa Use?
POLITICAL STUDIES
POL1004F COVER SHEET
Student Name: Stacy Liddell
Student Number: LDDSTA001
Tutor: Dadisai Taderera
Tut Group No: 32
Assignment No: Course Essay 1
Date: 15 May 2009
Plagiarism Declaration
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is to use another’s work and pretend that it is one’s own.
2. I have used the Harvard convention for citation and referencing. Each contribution to, and quotation in, this essay from the work(s) of other people has been attributed, and has been cited and referenced.
3. This essay is my own work.
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work.
Signature ______________________________
How do presidential systems differ from parliamentary systems? Which system does South Africa use?
This essay will explain the various branches of government and how separation of powers works in parliamentary – and presidential systems as this shows the relationship between the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government. The dichotomy that exists between the two systems of government will then be shown. Following from this will be an explanation of which system of government South Africa utilizes and why and how the South African government is elected into power. The separation of powers also helps to show where the sovereignty lies and this is another point which will be discussed as it will help to clarify why South Africa utilizes the current form of government that it does.
The separation of powers is only used in countries where there is democratic rule. It is the constitution of the country which sets out the guidelines as to how the three branches of government are separated. This is done to limit the power of government and make it accountable to the citizens of that country (Newton and van Deth, 2005:41). Therefore a simple definition of separation of powers is: dividing the three branches of government;
POL1004F COVER SHEET
Student Name: Stacy Liddell
Student Number: LDDSTA001
Tutor: Dadisai Taderera
Tut Group No: 32
Assignment No: Course Essay 1
Date: 15 May 2009
Plagiarism Declaration
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is to use another’s work and pretend that it is one’s own.
2. I have used the Harvard convention for citation and referencing. Each contribution to, and quotation in, this essay from the work(s) of other people has been attributed, and has been cited and referenced.
3. This essay is my own work.
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work.
Signature ______________________________
How do presidential systems differ from parliamentary systems? Which system does South Africa use?
This essay will explain the various branches of government and how separation of powers works in parliamentary – and presidential systems as this shows the relationship between the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government. The dichotomy that exists between the two systems of government will then be shown. Following from this will be an explanation of which system of government South Africa utilizes and why and how the South African government is elected into power. The separation of powers also helps to show where the sovereignty lies and this is another point which will be discussed as it will help to clarify why South Africa utilizes the current form of government that it does.
The separation of powers is only used in countries where there is democratic rule. It is the constitution of the country which sets out the guidelines as to how the three branches of government are separated. This is done to limit the power of government and make it accountable to the citizens of that country (Newton and van Deth, 2005:41). Therefore a simple definition of separation of powers is: dividing the three branches of government;
Bibliography: Coombes, A. E. 2003. History after apartheid: visual culture and public memory in a democratic South Africa. New York: Duke University Press. Crepaz, M. M. L., Koelble, T. A., Wilsford, D. 2000. Democracy and institutions: the life work of Arend Lijphart. Michigan: University of Michigan Press Goldwin, R. A., Kaufman, A. 1986. Separation of powers--does it still work? New York: American Enterprise Institute Lijphart, A. 1999. Patterns of democracy: government forms and performance in thirty-six countries. New Haven: Yale University Press Newton, K. van Deth J. W. 2005. Foundations of comparative politics: democracies of the modern world. London:Cambridge University Press Norris, P. 1997. Choosing Electoral Systems: Proportional, Majoritarian and Mixed Systems. Contrasting Political Institutions special issue of the International Political Science Review Vol 18(3):297-312 Republic of South Africa. 1996. Constitution. Chapters 3, 4 and 5. Government Printers: Pretoria Rhodes, R. A. W., Binder S. A., Rockman B. A. 2008. The Oxford Handbook of Political Institutions. New York: Oxford University Press US. Shugart M. S., Carey J. M. 1992. Presidents and assemblies: constitutional design and electoral dynamics. London: Cambridge University Press Shugart M. S. Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive and Mixed Authority Patterns. [Online]. Available: http://dss.ucsd.edu/~mshugart/semi-presidentialism.pdf [2009, May 11]