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A democratic system of government can be divided into the parliamentary and the presidential system based on the relationship between the executive and the legislature. The Presidential system is found in the USA, whereas India opted for the Parliamentary system. In the parliamentary system borrowed from Britain, In a parliamentary system, the executive is a part of the legislature and answerable to parliament. In this system, the head of state may be a monarch or a President, but both of these positions are ceremonial. The head of the government, who is generally called the Prime Minister, is the real head. Thus, all the real executive powers are vested in the Prime Minister.

Also, read Reason for adopting Parliamentary form of government 

What is Parliamentary Form of Government? 

Parliamentary system, there are two heads, the head of state and the head of government. The President of India, as per the Constitution, serves as the ceremonial head of state(de jure), while the Prime Minister acts as the real executive (de facto), holding most of the power in decision-making. The parliamentary system in India is enumerated in Part V of the Indian Constitution, which deals with the Union Executive. Articles 74 and 75 specifically deal with the structure and powers of the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, and the President.

Also, read Power and function of Indian parliament

Features of Parliamentary Form of Government

Here are the features of Parliamentary form of Government in India;

Nominal and Real Executives: The President is the nominal executive (de jure executive or titular executive) while the Prime Minister is the real executive (de facto executive). means the President is the head of the State, and the Prime Minister is the head of the government. It is part of Features of parliamentary form of government

Majority Party Rule: The political party that secures a majority in the Lok Sabha forms the government, and the leader of that party is appointed as the Prime Minister by the President; other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Collective Responsibility: The ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament. Collective responsibility means each minister’s responsibilities are shared by the entire Council. They act as a team and swim and sink together. It implies that the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry (i.e., the council of ministers headed by the Prime Minister) from office by passing a vote of no confidence.

Political Homogeneity: Usually, the ministers belong to the same political party, and hence they share the same political ideology.

Double Membership: The ministers are members of both the legislature and the executive. Its is part of features of parliamentary form of government

Dissolution of the Lower House: The President, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, can dissolve the lower house of the Parliament before the expiry of its term and hold fresh elections, which means that the executive enjoys the right to get the legislature in a parliamentary system.

Secrecy: The ministers operate on the principle of secrecy of procedure and cannot disclose information about their proceedings, policies and decisions. They take the oath of secrecy administered by the President before entering their office.

Features of Parliamentary form of government in India

India has adopted a Parliamentary system of Government borrowed from Britain. Article 74 and Article 75 deal with the parliamentary system at the centre, and Articles 163 and 164 deal with the states.  Features of parliamentary form of government in India are given below:

Dual executive: In a parliamentary system, there is a dual executive, i.e., the Nominal head and the Real Head. The head of the state holds a ceremonial position and is the nominal executive, i.e. the President. And the head of government is the Prime Minister, who is the real executive.  Article 75 of the Indian constitution provides for a Prime Minister to be appointed by the president. According to Article 74, the Prime Minister, headed a council of ministers, would aid and advise the President in the exercise of his functions.

Double Membership: The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are members of both the legislature and the executive. This means that a person can’t be a minister without being a member of the parliament. The Constitution stipulates that a minister who is not a member of the Parliament for six consecutive months ceases to be a minister.

Executive is a Part of Legislature: The Executive forms a part of the legislature and is a feature of the Parliamentary form of government. In India, the person should be a member of parliament to become a member of the executive. However, a person can be appointed as a minister for a period of not more than six consecutive months if he is not a member of the parliament, after which the person ceases to be a minister. This is part of Features of parliamentary form of government

Majority Party Rule: The Political Party that wins the majority of seats in the elections of the Lower House forms the government form the government. In India, the President invites the leader of the majority party in Lok Sabha to form the government. The President appoints the Prime Minister, and the other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The President may invite a coalition of parties to form the government, in case no party has got clear majority.

Collective Responsibility: In a parliamentary form of government, the council of ministers is collectively responsible to the parliament. Collective responsibility means each minister’s responsibilities are shared by the entire Council.  The Lok Sabha has the power to dismiss the government of the day by passing a no-confidence motion in the house. The government survives so long it enjoys the support of the majority of members in the Lok Sabha. Thus, the Lok Sabha is empowered to introduce a no-confidence motion against the government. They act as a team and swim and sink together. 

Leadership of Prime Minister: In a parliamentary form of government prime minister is the real executive. He is the head of the government, and a council of ministers works under him. Thus, he is the centre of gravity in the government, and he plays a significant role in the working of the government. This is part of Features of parliamentary form of government

Opposition say government way: No government in the parliament can get a hundred per cent majority. The opposition plays an important role in checking the arbitrary use of authority by the political executive. This is one of the important features of the parliamentary form of government. 

Independent Civil Service: civil servants are permanent executives, they advise and implement decisions of the government. They ensure continuity of employment even when the government changes. The civil service also ensures efficiency in the execution of duties and responsibilities.

Bicameralism: Bicameralism means a system of government in which the legislature comprises two houses. Countries following the parliamentary system, including India, have a bicameral legislature.

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Secrecy: The members of the executive in this system have to follow the principle of secrecy in matters such as proceedings, executive meetings, policymaking etc. In India, the ministers take an oath of secrecy before entering their office. The oath of secrecy to the minister is administered by the President. This is an important features of parliamentary form of 

Government.

Also read Indian Parliament 

Features of Parliamentary Form of Government in UK

U.K. constitution is the mother constitution of parliamentarians. It is also called a ministerial or cabinet system. A cabinet or parliamentary form of government is one in which the legislature and executive are closely related and share powers with each other.  Features of Parliamentary form of government in the UK are given below:

Fusion of Powers: This is one of the important features of Parliamentary form of government.

• The executive (government) is drawn from the legislature (Parliament). The Prime Minister and most Cabinet members are Members of Parliament (MPs), typically from the House of Commons. This contrasts with a separation of powers, as seen in presidential systems.
• The government is accountable to Parliament, requiring its confidence to remain in powerSovereignty of Parliament:

• Parliament, comprising the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch, is the supreme legislative authority. No court can overrule its laws, though judicial review can challenge their application.
• The UK’s unwritten constitution allows Parliament to make or repeal any law without legal constraints, reflecting its absolute legislative power.

Monarchy as Head of State:

• The Monarch is the ceremonial head of state, with powers that are largely symbolic and exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister or Cabinet.
• The Monarch’s roles include opening and dissolving Parliament, giving royal assent to legislation, and performing ceremonial duties.

Prime Minister and Cabinet: This is one of the important features of parliamentary form of government.

• Prime Minister is the head of government, typically the leader of the majority party or coalition in the House of Commons.
• Cabinet, appointed by the Prime Minister, consists of senior ministers who collectively make key executive decisions. It operates on the principle of collective responsibility, where ministers publicly support government decisions or resign.
• The Prime Minister’s power stems from commanding the confidence of the House of Commons, not a fixed constitutional mandate.

Bicameral Legislature:

• Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Commons (elected, with 650 MPs as of recent data) and the House of Lords (unelected, comprising life peers, hereditary peers, and bishops).
• The Commons is the primary legislative body, initiating most legislation, especially financial bills. The Lords review, amend, and can delay (but not block) legislation, under the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949.

Majority Party Rule:

• Political  Party with the most seats in the House of Commons usually forms the government. If no party has an absolute majority, a coalition or minority government may form, as seen in hung parliaments. The opposition, led by the Leader of the Opposition, plays a formal role in scrutinising the government. This is part of Features of parliamentary form of government.

Responsible Government:

• Government must maintain the confidence of the House of Commons to govern. If it loses a vote of no confidence, it must resign, triggering a general election or a new government formation.
• Ministers are individually accountable to Parliament for their departments and answer questions during sessions like Prime Minister’s Questions.

Unwritten Constitution:

• UK’s constitution is uncodified, relying on statutes, conventions, judicial decisions, and traditions. Key documents include the Magna Carta (1215), Bill of Rights (1689), and Acts of Union (1707).
• Conventions, such as the Prime Minister being an MP or the Monarch’s neutrality, guide political behaviour but are not legally enforceable.

Also read Comparison between Indian and Japanese constitutions 

Difference Between Indian and British Parliamentary Systems

India has borrowed the Parliamentary system of government from Britain, but there is a significant difference between them, in the features of Parliamentary form of government given below: 

Merits and Demerits of Parliamentary Form of Government 

Merit and demerits of parliamentary form of government are given below:

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Features of Parliamentary form of government FAQ?

What is the defining characteristic of a parliamentary government?

The executive and legislature are interconnected, with the executive (government) being formed from the legislature and remaining accountable to it. The head of government (e.g., Prime Minister) is typically a member of the parliament.

Who is the head of state in a parliamentary system?

The head of state (e.g., President or Monarch) is usually a ceremonial figure, while the head of government (e.g., Prime Minister) holds real executive power.

What is a vote of no-confidence?

A vote of no-confidence is a parliamentary motion that, if passed, indicates the legislature no longer supports the government. This may lead to the government's resignation or new elections.

How is the separation of powers maintained?

While the executive and legislature are closely linked, separation of powers is maintained through checks and balances. The judiciary remains independent, and the legislature can scrutinise the executive's actions.

What is collective responsibility in a parliamentary system?

The cabinet (executive) operates under collective responsibility, meaning all members must publicly support government decisions, even if they privately disagree. If a minister cannot support a decision, they are expected to resign.