In which type of government is the executive elected independently by the people?

The selected answer, a presidential system, is correct because in this type of government, the executive leader, usually referred to as the president, is elected independently by the electorate. This means that the president does not hold office under the direct control of the legislative branch and is elected through a separate electoral process. This independence from the legislative branch is a key feature that distinguishes a presidential system from other forms of government.

In a presidential system, the separation of powers is clearly defined among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, allowing the president to operate with a degree of autonomy. This structure ensures that the executive is directly accountable to the people, as voters have the ability to choose their president in periodic elections.

Contrasting with other systems, in a parliamentary system, the executive is typically chosen from the legislative branch, and the head of government (often called the prime minister) is not directly elected by the public but rather appointed based on majority support in the legislature. Similarly, an oligarchy involves control by a small group, and a confederation is an alliance of independent entities rather than a form of government where an executive is elected by the people.