AP Comparative Government and Politics / Political Institutions
Lesson
Executives and legislatures in conversation
Who hires the chief executive, and who can fire them, is a comparative question.
Learning goals
- Contrast parliamentary and presidential executive selection.
- Describe a legislature’s lawmaking or oversight role in two course countries.
Explanation
In a parliamentary system, the chief executive usually comes out of the legislature and depends on its confidence. The UK prime minister is the classic classroom case. In a presidential system, voters choose the executive separately, as in Mexico and Nigeria. Russia combines a strong presidency with a prime minister, which is why labels need a sentence, not a sticker.
Legislatures write law, approve budgets, and sometimes check the executive. China’s National People’s Congress is large and formally supreme, while party leadership shapes what reaches the floor. Iran’s Majles legislates under Guardian Council review. Compare functions, not applause.
Key terms
- Parliamentary system. A system in which the chief executive is chosen from and remains accountable to the legislature.
- Presidential system. A system in which voters separately elect a chief executive who serves a fixed term.
Common mistakes
- Calling every country with a president a presidential system.
- Assuming a legislature that rarely blocks the executive has no formal power.
Practice
Original Marlow Works items. Check the answer explanation after you try.
Identify one institutional difference between a parliamentary executive (United Kingdom) and a presidential executive (Mexico), and explain one political consequence of that difference.
Original Marlow Works item — not a College Board question.
Take your time—this is practice, not a test.
Answer explanation
In which course country is the working executive normally the leader of the majority in the lower house?
Answer. The United Kingdom, where the prime minister depends on Commons support.
Parliamentary fusion links the cabinet to the legislative majority.
Related resources
External links with reuse status. Marlow Works is independent and does not copy restricted exam or textbook material.
Official / link only
AP Comparative Government and Politics course page
Official five-unit framework and country comparison scope.
College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01
Open sourceCC BY — attribution required
Introduction to Political Science
Open political science background for institutions and behavior.
Open Textbook Library listing · CC BY · accessed 2026-10-01
Open source