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what is the difference between representative and responsible government?
Bot GPT 3.5
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Representative government and responsible government are types of democratic systems, each with distinct features:
1. Representative government:
- In a representative government, citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf.
- The elected representatives act as intermediaries between the citizens and the government, conveying the will of the people.
- Power is vested primarily in the elected representatives, who may consult the citizens on important matters through elections or referendums.
- The representatives are accountable to the citizens for their actions and can be voted out if they fail to adequately represent the interests of their constituents.
- This system aims to ensure that the government reflects the diverse opinions and interests of the people.
2. Responsible government:
- In a responsible government, the executive branch (government) is accountable to the legislative branch (parliament) for its actions.
- The government is formed by the political party or coalition that holds a majority in the parliament.
- The head of government (e.g., prime minister) is typically the leader of the party or coalition with majority support.
- The government must answer to the parliament and can be dismissed through a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
- Responsible government emphasizes collective cabinet decision-making and holds the executive to account for its policies and actions.
In summary, representative government focuses on citizens electing representatives who make decisions, while responsible government emphasizes the executive branch's accountability to the legislative branch. These two types of government complement each other in many democratic systems.