Parliamentary democracy pros and cons

Posted on | By Divya Chauhan

The pros of parliamentary democracy are that it supports diversity, It is simple to organize parties and encourages cooperation, and government stability has increased. The cons of parliamentary democracy are that it encourages inconsistency, has unpredictable election schedules, and is often based on a monarchy. There are several pros and cons to consider when looking at it as a new emerging technology.

List of the Pros of Parliamentary Democracy

It supports diversity

Most political parties in parliamentary democracies run on regional platforms as opposed to national ones. This increases the likelihood that local communities will have their issues heard by the government.

Government stability has increased

Only 35 states were able to sustain a stable, uninterrupted democracy globally from 1976 to 2006.  Since there is only one party in power, they can be extremely stable and don’t have to worry about elections significantly altering the balance of power and resulting in the fall of the government. According to the Freedom House Political Index, parliamentary systems were used in 90% of these states. Only Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, and the United States have had continuous democracies, and even some of those have had dubious results. In addition to lowering the likelihood of dictatorships arising and conflicts between the executive and judicial branches of government, they are also less likely to experience military coups.

International treaties

The parliamentary system allows the approval of international treaties and is effective at controlling and maintaining the economy.

It is simple to organize parties

By controlling executive power, parliament may guarantee regular changes and greater control over the lifespan of governments. Any group or organization can create a party or coalition that reflects a common personal viewpoint and then have that group or organization represented in the government. it can be challenging to gain any traction in the US. It can be difficult for factions of the two major political parties to be represented, such as the Republican Party and the Tea Party.

Encourages cooperation

In a parliamentary democracy, there are more than just two or three major parties represented. That necessitates cooperation among elected officials, which frequently lessens the level of political gridlock experienced throughout a legislative year.

It is a responsible form of government

The no-confidence vote is one of the distinctive features of the parliamentary system of government. This mechanism, which is unusual in presidential systems, enables the government to be overthrown in the event that parliament no longer supports it. Citizens are more likely to support the government because they have the power to vote them out if they agree with waht they are doing. A vote of no confidence in the executive branch of government in the United States could occur, but the current administration would remain in place.

Reduces the influence of local concerns

Direct representations are fewer under this system of government at the local level. That is because it compels elected officials to compromise their positions in order to align with what the majority supports. These worries are frequently unrelated to the situation in the real world and may not adequately address the plight of the governed.

List of the Cons of Parliamentary Democracy

Encourage inconsistency

The system of government is very erratic. A special election is healed to fill the vacancy if a party that is part of the collation of parties from the government departs from its ideals. It is possible that the new leader will not share the same goals or strategies as the outgoing one. Naturally, this causes a few inconsistencies along the way.

Unpredictable election schedules

Election schedules are unpredictable under this form of government because elections could occur at any time. Voting can take place without being announced beforehand. Due to the potential for excessive frequency and increased cost, this is both disruptive and expensive.

It does not provide as much direct representation

Individual regions are not equally represented in this form of democracy, unlike in presidential democracies or other forms of government. This is due to the formation of coalitions, which makes it challenging for politicians to be held accountable for their personal behaviors.

It is often based on a monarchy

A monarch is frequently in charge of the government in parliamentary democracies. The monarch may have broad authority or may only serve as a symbolic figurehead. Because the monarch has the authority to veto all decisions made by the government’s various bodies, voters may not be able to challenge specific decrees or laws.

It is a government structure that is easier to manipulate

Within the framework of parliamentary democracy, there are various tiers of power. The leader of the nation is with you. You have the ruler of the nation. Additionally, PM assistance or someone filling a vice president-like position may be present. Any one of these people might be able to act unilaterally on behalf of the entire nation. In extreme cases, this official might even attempt a coup to seize control of the government permanently.

It might present inconsistent leadership

The general public may not directly decide who becomes the prime minister because they are chosen by their elected representatives. There are many political parties with designated leaders who, if their party wins the majority, will assume the role of prime minister. However, this is not always the case. In addition, the prime minister can be quickly replaced if they lose support on their part.

Conclusion

The pros and cons of parliamentary democracy show that voting for representatives in a government gives citizens a voice. In addition to providing political stability in many fields,. It promotes compromise. In contrast to other democratic systems of government, voters in parliametary democracies might believe that their votes are less important.

Thank you for reading this article. If you have any queries regarding our article on the pros and cons of parliamentary democracy, then do comment in the comment section below.

Explore more information:

  1. Pros and Cons of Democracy
  2. Pros and Cons of Theocracy
  3. Pros and Cons of Monarchy
  4. Pros and cons of Aristocracy
  5. Pros and cons of Representative democracy
  6. Pros and Cons of Oligarchy
  7. Pros and Cons of Absolute Monarchy
  8. A parliamentary system of government  Advantages and disadvantages
  9. Dictatorship pros and cons

Author Profile

Divya Chauhan
Divya Chauhan is an expert writer with 10+ years of experience as a content writer. They specialize in making complex topics like IT, Health, and general topic easy to understand. Divya has written over thousands of articles to help people with their content. Prior to joining Way2benefits’s editorial team in 2020, Divya worked as a Professor of BCA college and freelancer blogger.

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