In a comparative executive-systems overview, the text explains that the United Kingdom's parliamentary executive emerged from cabinet responsibility to parliament, the U.S. presidential executive was designed with separation of powers and checks, and France's semi-presidential executive formed in 1958 with a president and prime minister. Based on the passage, which country exemplifies a parliamentary system?
- United States, where the executive is accountable to parliament through confidence votes
- France, where the president alone forms the government without a prime minister
- United Kingdom, where the cabinet is drawn from and responsible to parliament (correct answer)
- France, where the executive and legislature are fully separate by constitutional design
- United States, where the head of state is a hereditary monarch
Explanation: This question tests understanding of executive systems in comparative government. Executive systems include parliamentary arrangements where the executive emerges from and remains accountable to the legislature. The passage states that the United Kingdom's 'parliamentary executive emerged from cabinet responsibility to parliament,' clearly identifying it as a parliamentary system. Choice C is correct because it accurately identifies the UK as exemplifying a parliamentary system where the cabinet (executive) is drawn from parliament and remains responsible to it through confidence mechanisms. Choice A is incorrect because the United States has a presidential system with separation of powers, not a parliamentary system with confidence votes. To help students: Teach that 'responsible to parliament' and 'drawn from parliament' are key parliamentary system indicators. Contrast UK's fusion of powers with US separation of powers.