Functions of the cabinet in parliamentary system of government

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Functions of the cabinet in parliamentary system of government

(1) As part of the legislature, they also make laws.
(2) Since they constitute the executive, they are involved in the general control and administration of the several departments of the government.
(3) Implementation of the law.
(4) The cabinet initiates government bills to the parliament.

Merits and Demerits of Parliamentary system of Government

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Merits 
(1) fusion of both legislative and executive functions make the implementation of decisions to be faster.
(2) separating the ceremonial functions of head of state from the head of government makes the prime minister to concentrate strictly on the serious business of governing the state, not on frivolous ceremonies.
(3) the fear of being collectively voted out of power makes them always come up with their best ideas.

Demerits 
(1) Restriction of ministerial appointment to members of the parliament derives the country of better hands outside the parliament 
(2) collective responsibility can make other hardworking ministers to suffer removal due to the poor performance of a particular minister. 
(3) the fusion of both executive and legislative powers creates room for oligarchy and dictatorship.

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

Definition: it is a system of government headed by the parliament, with a ceremonial head of state. Thus, in this system of government, the offices of the head of state and that of the head of government are two separate offices occupied by two different persons.

 Features
(1) the head of state is the Queen or the president
(2) the head of state only performs ceremonial function
(3) the head of government is the prime minister who is also a member of the parliament.
(4) the prime minister is not elected by the public, but appointed.
(5)the other members of the cabinet can only be chosen from the parliament.
(6) there is fusion of power as the cabinet exercises both legislative and executive functions.
(7) members of the cabinet are collectively responsible for any decision taken by them.
(8) the other members of the parliament can pass a vote of no confidence on the executive (the cabinet)
(9)coalition government is possible if none of the political parties could secure absolute majority of seat in the parliament.
(10) supremacy of the parliament.

Non-Negotiability of Nigerian Unity

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term
On January 15, 1970, in Dodan Barracks, Lagos, Biafran acting Head of State, Gen. Philip Effiong, Colonel David Ogunewe, Colonel Patrick Anwunah, Colonel Patrick Amadi and police commissioner Patric Okeke submitted Biafra’s document of surrender, which officially marked the end of the civil war. 
For Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the rising sun of Biafra has set forever. This implies that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable. Now you can understand why the average Nigerian is not perturbed by the current hoopla about Biafra. 

Functions of the president

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Functions of the president as the head of state.
(1) He has the power to assent to bills passed by the legislature.
(2) He represents the country at or sends delegates to international conferences.
(3) Ceremonial function: to grace important occasions like Independence Day Ceremonies etc..
(4) To receive dignitaries from other countries.

Functions of the president as the head of government. 
(1) He controls the civil service 
(2) He makes important appointments. 
(3) He is the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces 
(4) He allocates revenue. 
(5) He presents the annual budget, first to the legislature for approval, and then to the nation. 
(6) He formulates foreign policy objectives and sees to its implementation. 
(7) He maintains law and order in the country. 
(8) He has the prerogative of mercy. 
(9) he appoints the Chief Justice 
(10) He initiates policies

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

SS1 GOVERNMENT

2nd Term

Merits 
(1) the freehand given to the president in his choice of ministers allows him to pick capable hands wherever he can find them whether within or outside the party.
(2) Checks and balance in the system keeps everyone up and doing.
(3) The principle of individual responsibility upheld in this system makes each minister to be careful and accountable.
(4) Since the president is chosen by popular vote, his government gains legitimacy.
(5) Separation of power, like division of labour, makes the government efficient.
(6) the individual responsibility of the ministers to the president allows him to efficiently control them in line with his manifesto.
(7) It is democratic.
(8) The supremacy of the constitution helps to prevent both anarchy and dictatorship.
(8) tenure system allows the people the option of changing a government.
(9) the weakness or failure of each arm of government is easily identified due to separation of power (10) since the same person is both the head of state and head of government there is no room for divided loyalty.

Demerits
(1) There is delay in implementation due to bureaucracy.
(2) the difficulty in the process of impeachment may make the president to abuse power and still complete his term.
(3) There is no job security for the ministers as they can be dismissed at the president’s will.
(4) Lobbying.
(5) If the opposition is the majority in the parliament, they can frustrate the president’s actualization of his manifesto.
(6) this kind of system is very expensive to operate.

PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

SS3 CRS

2nd Term

                PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

Meaning: it is a system of government in which the head of state of the country is also the head of government. In this system of government, all executive powers are vested in one person called the president. He is assisted by the vice president to whom he can delegate some of his duties. Presidential system of government holds the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government.

Features
(1) the executive president is both the head of state and the head of government.
(2) The president performs both ceremonial and executive functions.
(3) The president is chosen by general election.
(4) Members of the president’s cabinet are individually responsible to the president for their actions. So, he has control over them.
(5) The president appoints cabinet members but the appointment is subject to legislative ratification. (6) The president can dismiss or reshuffle members of his cabinet.
(7) The president is elected for a fixed term of office.
(8) There is separation of power among the three arms of government.
(9) The president can be removed by the parliament through the process of impeachment if found guilty of gross misconduct.
(10) The executive and the legislature are mutually exclusive to each other, i.e. a member of the legislature cannot be a member of the president’s cabinet and vice versa.  
(11) Bicameral legislature
(12) Rule of law, Supremacy of the constitution
(13) checks and balance