Some argue that the system of separation of powers in the United States inhibits the ability of lawmakers to be responsive to the voting public and makes it difficult for the voting public to hold lawmakers accountable for their decisions. They argue that our system (sometimes called the Presidential system), which gives the President and the Congress shared power is inferior to the Westminster system (sometimes called the Parliamentary Government system) in which both legislative and executive power is in the hands of Parliament. Critics of the Westminster system respond that the Presidential system is more stable and less prone to promote majority tyranny.

Comparing systems

 Parliamentary Systems
New Zealand's Parliamentary System
How laws are made in New Zealand
HOW OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS
An explanation of the South African system of government [Note that this is nearly a perfect model of a parliamentary government system, but the prime minister is called "the President" in South Africa]

The American System 
Encyclopedia Americana: Congress of the United States An excellent account of the organization of Congress and the consequences of the separation of powers on legislation
U.S. Election Results Exemplify Separation of Powers
From the United States Information Agency

Direct Comparisons
What Is Democracy? - Democratic Government 
A comparison of Presidential and Parliamentary government from the United States Information Agency
A Comparison of the Australian, British and American Political Systems
from R.J. Kilcullen's Introduction to Political Theory course at Macquarie University

Arguments in favor of the separation of powers
FEDERALIST No. 51
James Madison's argument for the importance of separation of powers and checks and balances
 Jurlandia - Explanatory Essay
Jurlandia Project - a model Constitution for the former soviet states Barnabas D. Johnson
See sections 9 & 10.
  Reinventing Democracy - Reinventing Parliament
British criticism of the parliamentary system from Charter 88, an organization seaking to institute a written constitution in the United Kingdom
Parliamentary debates
A Canadian recommends the separation of powers to Zambia

Arguments in favor of parliamentary government
 POLITICS-CAMEROON: A Weak Link in the Chain of Democracy
A news account of recent criticism of the power of the President in the constitutional system of Cameroon
Costs of Presidentialism
An essay Fred W. Riggs, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii, in favor of parliamentary democracy and against the separation of powers
 

What if we were Austrialian?

Australians have a unique constitution which has some features like the American Constitution (such as federalism) but is based largley on the Westminster model. In 1998 Australians celebrated the centenary of their constitution. As part of the celebration, several conventions were held across the country to consider whether Australia should sever ties with Queen Elizabeth II and become a republic. Some Australians have suggested that this might also be a good time to consider altering the basic structure of Australian government.
 

A Comparison of the Australian, British and American Political Systems
from R.J. Kilcullen's Introduction to Political Theory course at Macquarie University

Constitutional Centenary Foundation
A website devoted to celebrating the constitutional aniversary and tracking discussion of constitutional reform
Responsible Government

Palmer's Australian Politics 
Bryan Palmer has compiled a remarkable amount of information on the Austrialian constitution. Especially recommended are his account of the idea of Responsible Government and his Overview of Australia's Political System. Especially good is account of different constitutional reform proposals and an opportunity to Vote for your favorite republican government.

Austrialian Constitutional  Convention TV coverage
Transcripts from discussions of constitutional reform in Australia, including the question of whether Australia should adopt the "American system" of separation of powers. These arguments are often amusing.