Use the chart to answer the question.

Question

Presidential System Parliamentary System
President is elected by voters Prime minister is chosen by parliament
Separation of powers between branches Legislature and executive branches are closely related
Representatives are elected by districts Members of parliament are elected by districts
President and ruling party are independent Prime minister controls the ruling party
Legislature is unicameral or bicameral Legislature is unicameral or bicameral
President is not easily removed Prime minister can be easily replaced

Which statement best compares the presidential and parliamentary systems?

A) A presidential system and parliamentary system both rely on swift action and powerful executives to get laws passed. The main difference between the two forms of government is how stable the government is to pass laws.
B) A presidential system and parliamentary system both have executives that are difficult to remove, and the legislatures are powerful branches of government. The main difference between the two forms of government is the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.
C) A presidential system and parliamentary system both have separate and distinct powers between branches of government and a bicameral legislature. The main difference between the two forms of government is how much power is vested in the legislative and executive branches.
D) A presidential system and parliamentary system are both democratic systems that rely on the election of their representatives. The main difference between the two forms of government is the power held in the legislative and executive branches.

Answer 1

The statement that best compares the presidential and parliamentary systems is:

B) A presidential system and parliamentary system both have executives that are difficult to remove, and the legislatures are powerful branches of government. The main difference between the two forms of government is the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.

This option accurately reflects the key distinctions and similarities between the two systems, particularly highlighting the separation of powers in a presidential system contrasted with the interconnectedness of the legislative and executive branches in a parliamentary system. However, while the statement mentions that executives are difficult to remove, it's worth noting that this applies specifically to the president in a presidential system, while the prime minister in a parliamentary system can be more easily replaced. Thus, the answer has some simplifications but overall captures the essence of the differences and similarities effectively.