In which system of governance must the executive branch hold the confidence of the legislative branch?

The system of governance where the executive branch must hold the confidence of the legislative branch is known as Responsible Government. In this framework, the executive branch, typically comprised of the Prime Minister and their cabinet, is accountable to the legislature and, by extension, to the electorate. If the legislative branch does not have confidence in the executive, this can lead to the resignation of the cabinet or the calling of new elections.

This principle ensures a check on power, as the government must maintain the support of the majority of elected representatives. This fosters a connection between the government and the people since it creates a system where the leadership is directly responsible for their actions to the lawmakers who represent the public's interests.

In contrast, systems like Authoritarian governance centralize power and do not require the executive to maintain legislative support, which diminishes accountability. Meritocracies focus on merit and qualifications for leadership rather than electoral confidence, while Direct Democracy involves citizens making decisions directly rather than through elected representatives, bypassing the need for such confidence entirely.