Social Studies Praxis Practice Test

Which of the following is true of a presidential system of government?

1. There is typically more party discipline than in a parliamentary system.

2. The executive is the head of government but not the head of state.

3. The executive is also a member of the legislature.

4. The executive serves a fixed term of office.

The correct answer is: The executive serves a fixed term of office.

In a presidential system of government, the executive branch operates independently of the legislature, providing a clear separation of powers. One key characteristic of this system is that the executive, typically the president, is elected for a fixed term of office. This fixed term ensures stability and continuity in leadership, allowing the president to implement policies without the immediate threat of being ousted by the legislature, which is often a possibility in other systems. This structure reinforces the idea of checks and balances, as the executive and legislative branches have distinct responsibilities and operate independently of one another. In contrast, the other options misrepresent aspects of a presidential system. For instance, party discipline can vary significantly, often being less stringent in presidential systems compared to parliamentary ones where legislature members are usually part of the ruling party. Additionally, in a presidential system, the executive serves as both the head of government and head of state, as opposed to being only one or the other. Moreover, the executive is typically not a member of the legislature; rather, they are separate entities through this system of governance. Thus, the assertion regarding the fixed term of office clearly aligns with the fundamental structure of presidential systems.