Introduction
Despite their similarities in culture, Canada and the United States are run by vastly different political systems. Though both nations are federal states, Canada has a parliamentary system of government while the United States has a republic system (Wiseman 14-09-22). The American president and Canadian prime minister are both very influential figures, but this influence on their nations and governments manifests itself in different ways. There is great debate over which country’s system of government offers more power to its executive, and what exactly these powers entail. This essay will argue that Canadian prime ministers have far more and unrestrained powers than American presidents, but this comes at the cost of democracy. It will demonstrate this by reviewing the systemic differences between American presidential and Canadian parliamentary government, and exploring the ways in which the American president and Canadian Prime Minister can enter …show more content…
It immediately politicizes the presidency because the constitution says nothing about how the veto power should be used, just that it can be used (Hurl 13-10-24). The creators of the constitution did not put the same constraints on executive power that they did legislative power, giving the president a great advantage. As previously explained, the president is free from the control of the legislative branch and is not accountable to it. That the legislative majority has no direct control over the presidency is one of the most fundamental differences between the American and Canadian political systems. However, despite it not having power over the president, the presidential veto allows the president to have some power over the legislative branch through his potential to use the veto power. It also allows the president to control bureaucracy in that he can control the kinds of bureaucracy that Congress makes (Hurl
Despite their similarities in culture, Canada and the United States are run by vastly different political systems. Though both nations are federal states, Canada has a parliamentary system of government while the United States has a republic system (Wiseman 14-09-22). The American president and Canadian prime minister are both very influential figures, but this influence on their nations and governments manifests itself in different ways. There is great debate over which country’s system of government offers more power to its executive, and what exactly these powers entail. This essay will argue that Canadian prime ministers have far more and unrestrained powers than American presidents, but this comes at the cost of democracy. It will demonstrate this by reviewing the systemic differences between American presidential and Canadian parliamentary government, and exploring the ways in which the American president and Canadian Prime Minister can enter …show more content…
It immediately politicizes the presidency because the constitution says nothing about how the veto power should be used, just that it can be used (Hurl 13-10-24). The creators of the constitution did not put the same constraints on executive power that they did legislative power, giving the president a great advantage. As previously explained, the president is free from the control of the legislative branch and is not accountable to it. That the legislative majority has no direct control over the presidency is one of the most fundamental differences between the American and Canadian political systems. However, despite it not having power over the president, the presidential veto allows the president to have some power over the legislative branch through his potential to use the veto power. It also allows the president to control bureaucracy in that he can control the kinds of bureaucracy that Congress makes (Hurl