The American Fix - Parliamentary Systems. Thursday's Edition
How to restore trust in America after the Trump-Republican regime falls. Series 16 #4
The United States concentrates executive power in a single person; this is a problem. The U.S. president holds a four-year term regardless of performance, competence, or public support. Removal requires impeachment and conviction, a process so difficult it has never succeeded. Between elections, the country remains locked to its choice even when that choice proves dangerous, as it is with the current Trump-Republican administration. A president who consolidates power, ignores the law, and moves toward authoritarianism cannot be stopped until the next election, if there is a next election.
Parliamentary democracies prevent this. Research comparing parliamentary systems to presidential systems, such as the U.S., shows that presidential systems fail at dramatically higher rates. According to Cheibub and Limongi’s data for 1946–1999, democratic breakdown occurred in approximately 1 in every 23 democracies, but in only about 1 in every 58 parliamentary systems. The difference comes from how these systems distribute and constrain power.
Post-war Germany designed its parliamentary system specifically to prevent another Hitler. The 1949 Basic Law includes a constructive vote of no confidence. Parliament can remove the chancellor, but only by simultaneously electing a replacement. This prevents what destroyed the Weimar government: Nazis and Communists voting down every government without proposing alternatives, creating chaos that enabled Hitler’s rise.
Germany has used the constructive vote of no confidence only twice since 1949. Both times, parliament successfully elected new chancellors without the government collapsing.
The United Kingdom, Canada, and the Nordic countries use standard parliamentary confidence votes. Parliament can remove the prime minister anytime through a vote of no confidence, but it is not required to agree on who should replace them. A prime minister who loses public trust, governs incompetently, or threatens democratic norms faces removal sometimes within days.
Coalition governments add another barrier against dictatorship by employing proportional representation, which typically produces multiple parties in parliament. No single party wins majority control; thus, forming a government requires a coalition. Multiple parties divide cabinet positions and agree on policy direction. This forces compromise and prevents any one party from dominating. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Nordic countries govern through coalitions. The structure distributes power, requires cooperation, and makes authoritarian consolidation nearly impossible.
For the United States to regain credibility as a stable democracy that won’t produce another Trump, it must at least incorporate a constructive vote of no confidence. This preserves the presidential system Americans know while adding a strong component of parliamentary accountability.
The change fits several American cultural values.
Low power distance where leaders are accountable, cannot claim unchecked authority, and Congress can more easily remove incompetent or dangerous presidents.
Achievement orientaton which requires continuous performance, not just one election win; presidents who fail to govern effectively or threaten democratic institutions cannot hide behind fixed terms.
Universalism that applies the same removal mechanism, with identical requirements and standards, to every president equally.
Constructive vote of no confidence discourages toxic Power-seekers. The archetype that consolidates power, eliminates institutional checks, and governs through dominance. The mechanism attracts Guardians who lead from a commitment to doing what is right and creating functional structures. Guardians accept accountability because their goal is effective governance, not personal power. It also attracts Sages who value evidence-based problem-solving and build expertise through analysis. Both archetypes accept institutional constraints because they serve the public rather than themselves.
Learn more about the archetypes in M.J. Hornby’s novels
Parliamentary mechanisms will help restore credibility to the American system. It signals that American democracy includes additional, proven institutional protections against authoritarian consolidation. A professional parliamentary structure, separate from individual personalities, delivers predictable, accountable governance.
Tomorrow: inclusive representation that prevents minority rule.
SIDEBAR: Countries using constructive vote of no confidence:
Germany
Spain
Poland
Belgium
Hungary
Israel
Solvania
Albania
Lethoso
Over 80 nations use standard parliamentary confidence votes.
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How do we get there from here? These reforms seems monumental and there seems to be no will in Congress for meaningful change.(filibuster) a constitutional congress doesn’t even guaratee the reforms we want, it could go the other way too. 🤷♀️
Any change to the federal system will not come from the two major parties. They both have worked very hard to ensure 3rd parties are difficult to gain ground with things like ranked choice voting and proportional representation. So pressing for more democracy would need to rely on citizens from the bottom up rather than the two major parties. These types of limitations are what makes the U.S. a de facto oligarchy.