Question map
A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2. The bedrock of a Parliamentary System, as seen in India (Articles 75 and 164), is the principle of collective responsibility. The executive (Government) is not separate from the legislature but is a part of it and remains in power only as long as it enjoys the confidence of the popular house (Lok Sabha).
- Option 1 is incorrect because the Government is typically formed by the majority party/coalition, not all parties.
- Option 3 describes a direct democracy or aspects of a Presidential system; in a Parliamentary setup, the people elect representatives, who then form the Government.
- Option 4 describes a "Fixed-term Parliament" or a Presidential system; in a Parliamentary system, the Government can be removed at any time via a No-Confidence Motion if it loses its legislative majority, ensuring continuous accountability.
Thus, the defining feature is the executive's accountability to the legislature.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Sitter' and a fundamental static question. While the algorithm flagged web sources for the distractors, the correct answer is the verbatim definition found in the first few pages of NCERT Class XI (Indian Constitution at Work) or Laxmikanth's 'Parliamentary System' chapter. If you miss this, you are failing the basics.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: In a Parliamentary System of Government, are all political parties in the Parliament required to be represented in the Government?
- Statement 2: In a Parliamentary System of Government, is the Government responsible to the Parliament and subject to removal by the Parliament?
- Statement 3: In a Parliamentary System of Government, is the Government elected directly by the people and removable by the people?
- Statement 4: In a Parliamentary System of Government, is the Government chosen by the Parliament but protected from removal by the Parliament before the completion of a fixed term?
- States that parliamentary systems typically produce clear parliamentary majorities, implying the government is formed from whoever controls a majority rather than from all parties.
- Notes that where majorities are unclear and parties shift alliances, governments change frequently — showing government composition depends on majority support, not mandatory inclusion of all parties.
- Describes the parliamentary system (UK model) and warns it can be seen as giving too much power to a parliamentary majority — indicating governments are driven by majority control rather than obligated representation of every parliamentary party.
- By highlighting potential instability from shifting alliances and majority dynamics, it supports that not all parties must be in government.
The snippet presents the specific proposition that 'all political parties in the Parliament are represented in the Government' as one of several definitional statements and (in the same item) indicates that the correct characterisation is the Government's responsibility to Parliament (statement 2).
A student could use this to infer that representation of every party is not a defining requirement of parliamentary systems and then check constitutions or examples to confirm.
Explains that when no single party has a majority a coalition may be invited to form the government and that ministers are usually collectively responsible and typically belong to the same party.
Combine with the basic fact that only parties forming or supporting the majority coalition supply ministers, so not every parliamentary party must be included.
States that in a parliamentary democracy the executive is drawn from the party or a coalition that has a majority in the legislature.
Use this rule plus knowledge of multiple-party parliaments to deduce that smaller or opposition parties need not be part of the executive.
Notes that the parliamentary system requires the executive to have a majority in the legislature and contrasts this with PR systems that may not produce a clear majority.
A student can apply this to infer that governments normally reflect a majority grouping rather than all parties, and then look at real-world parliaments to verify.
Says a majority group from among elected representatives forms the government, implying the government comes from a subset of parliamentary parties.
Extend by checking examples (e.g., single-party majority or coalition governments) to see that not all parliamentary parties are represented.
- Defines parliamentary system as one in which the executive is responsible to the legislature.
- Labels parliamentary government as 'responsible government' / 'cabinet government' confirming accountability to Parliament.
- States collective responsibility is bedrock of parliamentary government.
- Explicitly says Lok Sabha can remove the ministry by passing a vote of no confidence.
- Describes ministers as responsible to Parliament for their acts.
- Lists parliamentary control mechanisms including the no-confidence motion.
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- Explicitly states the executive's origin and survival depend on the legislature (not direct popular election).
- Says the head of government is elected by the legislature and is accountable to Parliament through a vote of no confidence — implying removal is by legislature.
- Reiterates the key criterion: the executive is subordinated to the legislature, so its origin and survival depend on the legislature.
- Again notes the head of government is elected by the legislature and accountable to Parliament (vote of no confidence).
- Explains a related nuance: ministers appointed from elected members of a legislature have been elected by the people (so ministers are drawn from people-elected pool).
- Shows democratic quality that ministers are ‘chosen from among those whom the people have elected,’ but does not claim direct popular election of the executive as a whole.
Gives a test-style list showing the accepted definition: a parliamentary government is 'responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it' (option b) and contrasts that with the alternative 'elected by the people and can be removed by them' (option c).
A student can treat this as a rule that in parliamentary systems removal operates via the legislature (not direct popular removal) and check who elects the legislature in a given country.
Defines parliamentary system: 'the executive is responsible to the legislature'—establishes responsibility/removal link to legislature rather than direct popular election.
Combine with the fact that legislatures are made of elected representatives to infer whether removal is indirect (via representatives) rather than by direct popular vote.
Explicitly notes that the Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha and not the Rajya Sabha, and that the constitution gives removal/control powers to representatives 'directly elected by the people.'
A student can use this to infer that 'removable by the people' in practice usually means removable via their directly elected representatives (Lok Sabha), not by a separate direct popular mechanism.
States that 'a majority group from among these elected representatives forms the government,' implying the government is chosen by elected MPs rather than by a separate direct popular vote for the government as a whole.
Combine with knowledge that voters elect MPs: infer government formation/removal operates through parliamentary majority dynamics rather than a direct popular election of government.
Asks why the Prime Minister is not directly elected, giving 'only the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha can become Prime Minister' and 'Lok Sabha can remove the Prime Minister' as central points.
A student can use this to conclude that the head of government is chosen/removed via parliamentary majority mechanisms, not by direct popular election.
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- Explicitly states the head of government is elected by the legislature (supports the ‘chosen by Parliament’ part).
- Directly says the head of government is accountable to Parliament through a vote of no confidence (contradicts the ‘protected from removal’ part).
- States that only Parliament is directly elected and the head of government is selected by Parliament (supports the ‘chosen by Parliament’ part).
- Says the head of government ‘requires its constant support’, implying Parliament can remove the government if support is withdrawn (contradicts the idea of fixed-term protection).
Presents alternative characterizations and (by the question format) contrasts a claim that the government 'cannot be removed ... before completion of a fixed term' with the proposition that 'the Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it.'
A student could take this contrast and check typical parliamentary rules (e.g., confidence/no-confidence) on whether removal by parliament is a standard feature.
States that parliamentary government establishes 'responsible government' and that ministers are responsible to Parliament and can be controlled via devices like no-confidence motion.
Use knowledge of what a no-confidence motion does (forces resignation/dismissal or dissolution) to infer parliaments generally can remove governments before fixed terms.
Explains parliamentary government as 'responsible government' where the cabinet 'stays in office so long as it enjoys ... confidence' of Parliament.
Combine this rule with the general fact that 'enjoying confidence' is revocable (e.g., via parliamentary votes) to judge whether governments are protected from early removal.
Notes that in a parliamentary system the executive can advise dissolution of the lower house before its expiry, indicating flexibility in tenure rather than rigid fixed-term protection.
Contrast this executive power to dissolve legislature with the idea of a government being immune from parliamentary removal to argue against fixed-term protection.
Emphasises interdependence of ministers and Parliament (ministers must be members and are accountable), reinforcing the pattern that executive tenure depends on parliamentary confidence.
A student could combine this with the parliamentary-confidence principle to infer that early removal mechanisms exist and fixed-term immunity is unlikely.
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- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from Laxmikanth Chapter 12 (Parliamentary System) and NCERT Class XI (Constitution at Work, Chapter 4).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Basic Structure' and 'Forms of Government' module. Specifically, the debate between Stability (Presidential) vs. Responsibility (Parliamentary).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Features' vs 'Merits/Demerits' table in Laxmikanth. 1. Presidential System: Fixed tenure, Separation of Powers (USA). 2. Semi-Presidential: Elected President + PM responsible to Parliament (France/Sri Lanka). 3. Shadow Cabinet: UK feature (not in India). 4. Doctrine of Fusion of Powers: Executive sits inside Legislature. 5. Article 75(3): Collective Responsibility (the bedrock).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: UPSC Polity has shifted from asking 'Which Article?' to 'What does this concept mean?'. You must be able to define Liberty, State, Law, and Parliamentary System in one simple sentence without legal jargon. Focus on the *essence* (Accountability), not just the mechanics.
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The executive in a parliamentary system is formed by the party or coalition that commands a majority in the legislature; not every parliamentary party becomes part of the government.
High-yield: questions often ask who forms the government and under what conditions (single-party majority vs. coalition). Understanding this clarifies coalition politics, stability of governments, and differences with proportional-representation outcomes. Connects to topics on majority rule, coalition bargaining, and election systems.
- Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > HOW DOES THE PARLIAMENT CONTROL THE EXECUTIVE? > p. 114
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > DEMERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 133
- Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive > Introduction > p. 141
Ministers act as a team and are collectively responsible to the legislature, which can remove the ministry via a vote of no confidence.
High-yield: this principle explains executive accountability in parliamentary systems and is frequently tested in polity questions on checks and balances, impeachment/no-confidence mechanisms, and executive-legislature relations.
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > DEMERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 133
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > DEMERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 133
Members of the council of ministers usually belong to the same political party or the ruling coalition, reflecting political homogeneity rather than mandatory inclusion of all parties.
Medium-high: helps answer questions on composition of cabinets, ideological cohesion, and why opposition parties remain outside the executive. Useful for analysing coalition versus single-party governments and executive-legislative coordination.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > DEMERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 133
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > MERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 132
Ministers in a parliamentary system are accountable to Parliament for their policies and actions and must retain its confidence to remain in office.
High-yield for UPSC because questions often test the nature of executive responsibility and constitutional features; links to Articles on executive formation, parliamentary oversight, and political responsibility. Mastery helps answer questions on legitimacy of government actions, legislative control, and comparative government forms.
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > MERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 132
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > CHAPle > p. 131
The cabinet is collectively responsible to the legislature and can be removed by a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
Crucial for answering questions on government stability, removal mechanisms, and practical functioning of parliamentary systems; connects to topics like coalition governments, floor majority, and procedural tools (no-confidence, adjournment motions).
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > DEMERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 133
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > MERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 132
Parliamentary systems feature interdependence and cooperation between executive and legislature, unlike presidential systems which emphasize separation of powers.
Useful for comparative constitutional questions, classification of governments, and constitutional design debates; enables distinction-based answers on accountability, tenure security, and checks and balances.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > CHAPle > p. 131
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > El l Parliamentary form of Government > p. 29
In a parliamentary system the executive (Council of Ministers) is accountable to the legislature and can be removed by it.
High-yield for polity questions on modalities of accountability (no-confidence, question hour) and constitutional provisions; helps answer questions on ministerial responsibility and legislative control. Links to discussions on responsible government, checks on executive and party-system dynamics.
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > CHAPle > p. 131
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 13: Parliamentary System > MERITS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM > p. 132
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The 'Kitchen Cabinet' or 'Inner Cabinet'. While the Parliamentary system is defined by the Council of Ministers, real power often resides in this smaller, extra-constitutional body. A future question might ask: 'Which of the following is an extra-constitutional body that influences decision making in a Parliamentary democracy?'
Use the 'Opposite System' check. Option D describes the Presidential System (Fixed term, hard to remove). Option C describes a Direct Democracy or Presidential election. Option A describes a 'National Unity Government' (rare exception). Only Option B describes the daily accountability mechanism (Question Hour/No-Confidence) that defines our system.
Mains GS-2 (Comparison of Constitutions): Link this definition to the 'Decline of Parliament' thesis. If the Government is responsible to Parliament, why are ordinances and guillotines increasing? This definition is the *theory*; Mains asks about the *practice*.
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