Ryan Horton November 15, 2016 Presidential vs Parliamentary System Throughout the millennia since it was invented by the Athenians, democracy has seen many different forms; from its original direct democracy in Greece and the Scandinavian "things" of the Middle Ages, to the modern party systems that Western democracies know today. Today's two most common forms of democratic governments are representative democracies in the form of a parliamentary system and constitutional republics in the form of presidential systems. Two of the most prominent (and most controversial) of these types of systems are those of the Canadian and American governments. The sharp contrasts in the two systems has created much debate over the years about which form of government is preferable. By critically judging the systems …show more content…
Presidential systems are a more modern political phenomenon, with the first official title of President being given to George Washington in 1774. The massive success of the American revolution spawned a plethora of copycat revolutions, which in turn created dozens of constitutional republics, making them one of the most prevalent democratic system in the world. Seeking to distance themselves from their colonial oppressors, the Americans sought to create a system which favoured popular sovereignty over a representational oligarchy.9Eagles, Munroe. "The Institutions of Liberal Democratic States." In Politics: An Introduction to Democratic Government, 225. Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview Press, 2008. This was done by the drafting of a constitution, which serves as the public's armament against abuses of power by politicians. In fact, the Constitution is so strong, that it would not be untrue to say that it is the de facto sovereign in the American system, who is represented by the President.10Eagles. "The Institutions of Liberal Democratic States." In Politics,