The legislature debates and makes laws. The executive puts laws and policies into action through ministers, departments and officials. For example, a law can set rules for road safety, while officials arrange enforcement and public services.

The judiciary interprets laws and decides disputes. Courts can examine whether public action follows the Constitution and law. They do not simply do the executive’s everyday enforcement work. Distinct roles help prevent all power being concentrated in one place.

In a presidential system, the president leads the executive separately from the legislature. The executive does not depend on ordinary parliamentary confidence in the same way as a parliamentary cabinet. Election methods vary: do not assume every president is chosen by a direct national vote.

The United States has a president and a Congress made up of the Senate and House of Representatives. Law-making, budgets and courts provide checks under its Constitution. Both parliamentary and presidential systems can be democratic; how rights and accountability work matters.

A small group may gain power through wealth, military control or family connections. If policies mainly serve that group and ordinary people cannot effectively challenge it, public decisions become less accountable.

A cartoon can exaggerate size to show influence. Large figures may represent wealthy interests, while small figures represent officials. Ask what the artist is criticising; a cartoon is an argument, not a photograph or a measured record.