THEORIES ABOUT SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEMS

Abstract

The paper points out theories about semi-presidential systems and their characteristics. Maurice Duverger popularised this model of the separation of powers in his works, pointing out, alongside other writers who followed him, the differences in relation to the presidential and parliamentary systems. The differences in individual definitions of the semi-presidential system indicate the lack of agreement on the essential characteristics of this system of government. In addition to Duverger’s definition of the semi-presidential system, which states that its three essential characteristics are: the president of the republic is directly elected, has significant powers, and has a prime minister and ministers who are parliamentarily responsible, the minimalist concept of Robert Elgie is also pointed out, from which significant presidential powers are excluded. Due to its importance in theory, Shugart and Carey’s understanding of two subtypes of the semi-presidential system is presented, namely the prime-presidential and presidential-parliamentary systems. Giovanni Sartori’s theory of the semi-presidential system is presented because this writer, among other things, gave science a definition that very well answers the question of the dynamic character of this institutional model. Among the normative-political theories and definitions that follow them, the one postulated by Rafael Martinez is the one given in the paper, and among the normative theories and definitions, the paper considers the theory of Gianfranco Pasquino. Finally, the author offers his definition of the semi-presidential system.