The use of Prime Minister as the head of Government is associated with which system of governance?

1. Analyze the question The question asks which system of government uses a Prime Minister as the head of government.

2. Explain the concept In a parliamentary system, the executive is drawn from the legislature (Parliament). Key features:

• The Prime Minister is the head of government, usually the leader of the majority party or coalition in Parliament.
• The head of state is a separate, mostly ceremonial figure, such as a monarch (UK) or a President (India, and Nigeria's First Republic, where the Governor-General and later the President was ceremonial and Tafawa Balewa was Prime Minister).
• The executive is collectively responsible to the legislature and can be removed by a vote of no confidence.
• There is a fusion of powers between the executive and the legislature.

In contrast, a presidential system (Nigeria today, USA) has a President who is both head of state and head of government, elected separately from the legislature, with a strict separation of powers.

3. Solution: checking each option

• A. Cabinet: A cabinet is a body of ministers that exists within both parliamentary and presidential systems. It is not itself a system of governance, so it is not the best answer. (Some textbooks say "cabinet government" for the parliamentary system, but "Parliamentary" is the standard term and the more precise one.)
• B. Parliamentary: Correct. The Prime Minister as head of government is the hallmark of this system.
• C. Presidential: Here the President heads the government, not a Prime Minister.
• D. Monarchical: This describes rule by a king or queen, which is about the head of state. A monarchy can have a Prime Minister, but the Prime Minister is not what defines it.

4. Answer The correct option is **B.

5. Exam tip Remember: "Prime Minister = Parliament", since both start with P and the PM comes from Parliament. And "President = Presidential", where one person is both head of state and head of government.