The American Presidential System vs. The Canadian Parliamentary System

Essay by KadaouiCollege, Undergraduate January 2006

download word file, 8 pages 5.0

Governments play a large part in our lives. We are so used to their role, that much of their influence goes unnoticed. Governments differ from country to country, but their influence remains. Canada is a democracy with a parliamentary system of government. The United States of America is also a democracy but with a presidential system of government. Canada's parliament consists of the Queen, the Senate and the House of Commons. In the Canadian parliamentary system the Prime Minister is the Head of Government and is also a member of the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is the leader of the winning party in the federal election. This person is appointed by the Governor General as the Prime Minister. Even though they are appointed, they are elected first. The American system of government is established by the United States Constitution, which provides for three separate but equal branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Together, these branches govern the country. In the American presidential system the President is the head of government and chief executive officer. Both Canada and the United States are representative democracies with a federal structure. I prefer The Canadian parliamentary system of government over the American Presidential system of government. The leader of a political party in the American presidential system of government may only be reelected once. The leader of the political party in the American presidential system of government is not a member of Congress (legislative branch). As well, Voters must wait for regular elections to unseat an unsatisfactory president or member of Congress. In this essay the three branches of government, elections in the United States and Canada, the Head of State, similarities and differences to both systems of governments and the strengths and weaknesses to both systems of government will...