What is the Difference Between Cabinet and Parliament?

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The main difference between a cabinet and a parliament lies in their functions and structures within a government system.

  • Cabinet: The cabinet is an important group of ministers in any government, responsible for the administration of government departments and the formulation of proposed legislation before it is passed to the parliament. Cabinet members are part of the executive branch of government, and their primary role is to act as an official advisory council to the head of government. The cabinet does not function as a collective legislative influence. In some systems, the cabinet can be changed by the prime minister, who also chairs cabinet meetings.
  • Parliament: Parliament serves as both a physical place where legislators sit and debate, as well as a democratic institution that represents the will of the nation through chosen representatives. Parliament is found in all countries following the Westminster model of democracy. The parliament comprises all the members elected to both houses of parliament. The government, which is made up of members of the party (or alliance of parties) that has won the most seats in the parliament, is unable to pass laws or raise taxes without the agreement of the parliament. Parliament represents the interests of the people and ensures those interests are taken into account.

In summary, the cabinet is a group of ministers responsible for the administration of government departments and the formulation of proposed legislation, while the parliament is a democratic institution that represents the will of the nation through chosen representatives and is responsible for passing laws and approving taxes.

Comparative Table: Cabinet vs Parliament

Based on the search results, I have created a table comparing the differences between a cabinet and parliament:

Feature Cabinet Parliament
Definition A group of the most experienced ministers who hold important portfolios and advise the President or Prime Minister on important matters. The legislative branch of government, responsible for making laws.
Membership Members are part of the executive organ only. Members are part of both the legislative and executive organs of government.
Responsibility The cabinet is responsible for the day-to-day management of the government and response to sudden events. Parliament is responsible for making laws and overseeing the implementation and enforcement of laws.
Accountability In a parliamentary system, the cabinet is accountable to the parliament. In a presidential system, the cabinet is not accountable to the parliament. In both parliamentary and presidential systems, parliament is accountable to the people through elections.
Relationship with the Executive In a parliamentary system, the prime minister and cabinet members are also members of parliament, and they work closely together. In a presidential system, there is little to no connection between the cabinet and the legislature. In both parliamentary and presidential systems, parliament works closely with the executive branch, overseeing its actions and enforcing laws.

In summary, a cabinet is a group of experienced ministers who advise the President or Prime Minister on important matters and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the government. In contrast, parliament is the legislative branch of government, responsible for making laws and overseeing their implementation and enforcement. The relationship between the cabinet and parliament varies depending on the type of political system, with a closer connection in parliamentary systems and a more distant connection in presidential systems.