A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Civil Services Exam (Prelims) GS Official Paper-I (Held On: 2020)

all political parties in the Parliament are represented in the Government
the Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it
the Government is elected by the people and can be removed by them
the Government is chosen by the Parliament but cannot be removed by before completion of a fixed term

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

Representation of Political Parties:
- This statement is not a requirement of a parliamentary system, as not all parties need to be represented in the government; typically, the ruling party or coalition governs.
- Hence, option 1 is incorrect.
Government Responsibility:
- In a parliamentary system, the executive branch derives its legitimacy from the legislature (Parliament) and is accountable to it.
- If the government loses a vote of confidence, it can be removed by the Parliament.
- Hence, option 2 is correct.
Election by the People:
- While members of Parliament are elected by the people, the government itself (the Prime Minister and the Cabinet) is formed from the elected members of Parliament.
- The government is not directly elected by the people in a parliamentary system.
- Removal by the people typically occurs through general elections, not directly.
- Hence, option 3 is incorrect.
Fixed Term of Government:
- In a parliamentary system, the government can be removed before the end of its term through a vote of no confidence or similar procedures, so this statement does not accurately describe a parliamentary system.
- Hence, option 4 is incorrect.
Therefore, the defining feature of a Parliamentary System of Government is that the Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it.