Westminster Parliamentary Model

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The Westminster Parliamentary Model system emerged to the majority of the African Colonies in the tumultuous times of the 1960s and 1970s when African countries got the independence they have been fighting for. Just like hereditary genes in the DNA code, this Model was meant to be passed down from generation to generation. However the African colonies defied the pattern, today the Westminster Parliamentary Model of government is history as most African countries have switched to the Presidential system of government. There is an incredible distinction and meaning with regards to the type of regime whether parliamentary or presidential which a country has employed. It is of paramount importance for the parliamentary and presidential systems …show more content…

Separation of powers refers to its fundamental value partaing to its constitutional principle of checks and balances in government “to ensure that state authority is constitutionally controlled and not used arbitrary” (Labuschagne, 2004: 85). This means that to ensure that that the constitutional right to to freedom is not infringed there has to be division of the centralised constitutional power, as no organ of the state would have all the power and end up abusing it. Rautenback and Malherbel , 1996:68 teaches that even in the separation their functions and powers are exercised different government personnel and bodies. This is of paramount importance in maintainaning order in the government (Labuschagne,2004:86). Separation of powers also refered to a s trias politica as a dicta divides government powers between the legislature, executive and …show more content…

In simplicity this means that this is a system in which votes are converted into seats in parliament or any other organ of the state. There are different types of electorate systems used around the world in different levels and regions of government including University council elections. There are three different types of electorate systems, first being the plurality electorate system or winner-take-all system: - here seats are awarded to individuals who attain the most votes (Charlse, 2000:3). Second being the Majority electoral system also called the second ballot system: - it is the opposite of the plurality system as it requires candidates to attain a majority of vote determined by a 50%-plus-one-vote, in order to win. Thirdly being proportional representation which is currently adopted by the South African government. With this system the percentage seats warded to candidates is dependent and directly proportional to the percentage of the votes

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