In comparative politics, what is the difference between a presidential and a semi-presidential system?

• A. The president is elected by the legislature in a presidential system, while the prime minister is elected directly in a semi-presidential system.
• B. A presidential system combines legislative and executive power in a single party, whereas a semi-presidential system separates them.
• C. In a presidential system, the president is elected by the legislature; in a semi-presidential system, the president is elected separately and has no involvement in government.
• D. In a presidential system, the president is elected separately with broad executive power; in a semi-presidential system, there is both a president and a prime minister with distinct powers.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is how executive power is arranged and who chooses the leaders. In a presidential system, the president is elected separately from the legislature and serves as both head of state and head of government; the executive and legislative branches are clearly separated, and the president holds broad independent power, with the cabinet typically not dependent on legislative confidence for survival.

In a semi-presidential system, there is a dual executive: a separately elected president and a prime minister who runs the government and is usually accountable to the legislature. The president and the prime minister have distinct powers and share authority over governance, which can vary by country and can lead to situations like “cohabitation” if they come from different parties.

So this option captures the distinction: the president is elected separately with broad executive power; in a semi-presidential system there is both a president and a prime minister with distinct powers.