Executive power in democratic government systems

Abstract

This article performs a survey on the literature available about government systems in demo­cratic countries pointing out weaknesses both on parliamentary and presidential models ba­sed on their basic institutional differences, i.e., fusion and splitting of power. For the author, the explanatory weight given to such differences does not contribute much to understand the institutional conditions that determine the dynamics of governments and their policies. Em­pirical studies have identified enormous diversity within each government system concerning formal regulations and functioning. More recently, analytical models have emphasized the im­portance of agenda powers in the Executive on both government systems, which work as some institutional apparatus of significative impact on the capability a government will have to coordinate its own internal structure as well as to obtain Legislative support and the bureau­cratic acquiescence for implementing its political program.