POLS 200: Analysis of Political Systems and Democratic Principles

This assignment delves into the comparative analysis of various political systems, including presidential, parliamentary, and hybrid models, highlighting their core characteristics and differences. It explores the concepts of democracy, distinguishing between direct democracy and republics, and examines the practical application of these systems in different countries, such as Singapore and the United States. The assignment emphasizes the separation of powers, the roles of legislative and executive branches, and the factors that define a country's democratic status, including freedoms and rights. It also touches on the nuances of governance, the influence of ruling parties, and the importance of citizen participation in political decision-making. The analysis includes an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of different governmental structures and their impact on societal outcomes, providing a comprehensive overview of political science concepts.

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POLITICAL SCIENCE
1) The presidential form: In the presidential system, people have the power to elect their
own leaders. The citizens explicitly select a president, who serves for a specific term in office
without the intervention of legislative.
The parliamentary form: The fusion of legislative and executive power eradicates
potential legislative-executive clashes that may result in deadlock hybrid systems. In this
singular authority structure, the governing majority remains responsible for each stage of the
policy process.
The Hybrid form: The hybrid combines both the parliamentary as well as presidential
systems. It offers an independently voted presidential –type executive who may represent the
national will.
Council Systems: In this type of political institution, a small group of people share
collective leadership and remains responsible for both legislative and executive function.
Assembly system: In this type of political institution, collective leadership remains
exercised by a larger group, normally instituted as a legislature
2. The main essential element of presidential government remains the separation of
legislative and executive structures. The citizens select the president as well as all the members
of the national assembly. It offers both the legislature and the president with the independent
command to represent the people in the governing process. On the other hand, the essential
features of parliamentary government remain the fusion of legislative and executive functions as

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well as structures. In a parliamentary system, the citizens elect the parliament (the legislature),
the legislature then empowers a cabinet, which then empowers one of the members to be a prime
minister.
3. The government in Singapore remains based on a one-party rule. The ruling political
party holds eighty-two out of the total eighty-four seats. Nevertheless, democracy remains active
there, and citizens vote in elections. It is not that in Singapore there is a dictatorship, but it is just
that the opposition party never wins. Singapore has been constantly ranked the best place to do
business activities with the least corruption as well as ease of business. The success of this
country is because of the people's faith in the current government.
4. It is a form of government in which the citizens exercise the authority of government.
True direct democracy indeed remains government of as well as by the people. In this political
system, all the citizens remain active, direct participant more so in making decisions of public
policy.
5. A country is classified as a democracy if the citizens, as well as the media, are allowed
to exercise freedoms for example freedom of assembly, speech, and the right to petition the
national government for action. So, democracy is the practice by any country that can claim that
the system they are using reflects the will of the citizens. Features we assume inherent to a
democracy include a formal voting, as well as revocation of the mandate, are some of the
minimal requirements of a democracy.
Democracy in the US remains strong, but showing certain cracks. Many people argue that
the US performed well on some of the essential measures of democracy, for example, freedom of
speech, free and fair elections as well as judicial limits on the power of the executive. But other
people argue that essential standards of democracy were being met such as no interference with

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the press as well as respect for the independence of Judicial by branches of government.
However, if the United States can be fooled by a figure like Trump, it cannot be trusted with
whatever power that the country does retain.
6. Yes, there is a difference between a democracy and a republic. The main difference
between a republic as well as a democracy lies in the limits put on the government by the law
that has implications for minority rights. It is true that in a republic, the constitution safeguards
certain inalienable rights that may never be taken away by the national government. Whereas in a
democracy, the majority remains not controlled in this way and may enforce its will specifically
on the minority.
Additionally, in a democracy, all people who remain eligible to vote often take part in the
law-making process that governs them. In a direct democracy, the people have the power to
make laws. Currently, some US states empower the citizens to make laws via the ballot initiative.
Thus, in a direct democracy, the majority makes the rule, as well as the minority, has no or little
power. On the other hand, in a republic, all citizens choose representatives to make the laws as
well as an executive to impose those laws.