Final answer:
In a parliamentary model, the executive and legislative functions are fused because the legislative branch elects the prime minister, who is also a legislator, making lawmaking and executing the law interdependent. This can lead to efficient law passage but can also compromise political stability during majority conflicts. The correct answer is option: a parliamentary system combines the lawmaking and executive functions of government.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it is said that in a parliamentary system, the executive and legislative functions are fused, it means that there is no clear-cut separation of powers between these two branches of government. In this system, the legislative branch elects the chief executive, commonly known as the prime minister, from its own members. The prime minister is both a leader within the legislative branch and the head of the executive branch, consolidating the roles and enabling greater cooperation and efficiency in passing legislation. Despite its advantages, this combination of powers can lead to issues of stability if conflicts within the ruling party or coalition lead to a no-confidence vote, possibly resulting in the need for new elections.
In contrast to a presidential system, where the president is elected separately from the legislative body and there is a stronger separation of powers, a parliamentary system bases the executive's authority on a legislative majority. This connection can create smoother legislative processes but also presents the risk for political instability. Systems like the semi-presidential system attempt to blend elements of both parliamentary and presidential systems, sharing policy-making power between an independently elected president and a prime minister who leads the legislative majority.