What's the difference b/w Parliamentary and Presidential form of Govts

What is a Government?

A government is a systemised group of people governing a state. A government consists of a legislature, executive and judiciary also known as the three tiers to a government. It is a means for enforcing policies and laws. Each government has some kind of a constitution that helps in governing principles and policies.

Democracy is a form of government where he people of the state have the authority to choose their legislators or decide on different legislations of the state. The most prevalent type of democracy today is the presidential and parliamentary form of government.
 

What is a Parliamentary form of Government?

It is a form of government where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support ("confidence") of the legislature, typically a parliament, and is also held accountable to that parliament. In a parliamentary system, the head of state is usually a person distinct from the head of the government. Sometimes countries with parliamentary democracies may be constitutional monarchies where the head of the state is the monarch and along with the Prime Minister, he/she governs the country.
 

What is a Presidential form of Government?

It is a form of government where the head of the state is the head of the government who leads the executive branch. In presidential countries, the head of government is elected and is not responsible to the legislature, which cannot in normal circumstances dismiss it. Such dismissal is possible, however, in uncommon cases, often through impeachment.
 

Difference between Parliamentary and Presidential forms of Governments  

1. Parliamentary government is a form of government where the legislature is a part of the executive. It is a system where the people elect their own representatives to the parliament. Whereas, a Presidential Government is a form of government where there is a more distinct division of powers between the three organs of the government. The President is both the head of the executive and is directly elected by the people of the country.

2. In a Parliamentary form of government, the head of the state and the head of the government are two different leaders. However, in a Presidential government the head of the state and the head of the government is the same leader, i.e., the President.

3. In a Parliamentary form of government, the cabinet ministers belong to the party with the majority in the Parliament whereas in a Presidential Government the ministers do not have to be member of the parliament and can be chosen outside of it.

4. In a Parliamentary government, the Prime Minister has the power to dissolve the house. However, in a Presidential government the President has no such powers.

5. The tenure of the Prime Minister is not only as per the tenure mentioned in the law but also as long as he or she enjoys a majority in the Parliament whereas in a Presidential government the tenure of the President is fixed.

6. In a Parliamentary government the Executive is accountable to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of ministers. However, in a Presidential government the Executive is not accountable to any organ of the government

7. Parliamentary government has a bit of overlap on the rule of separation of powers and it is not quite strictly followed. The concentration of powers is divided between the executive and the Legislature. In a Presidential government, the principle of separation of powers between the organs of the government are strictly followed. The powers are divided into water-tight compartments of the government, i.e., the legislature, executive and the judiciary.

8. A Parliamentary government is less likely to move towards a totalitarian or autocratic type of government as no single person holds all the power. Whereas a Presidential Government is more susceptible to a more autocratic form of government as all the powers are concentrated in the hands of one leader who is the President of the government