47ed18c3_Systems_of_Democracy__Parliamentary_Democracy
[Direct Democracy] Laws are created in four steps: 1. Draft by the administration 2. Consultation of federal states, political parties, entrepreneurs, unions and other interested groups 3. Parliamentary debate and final version passed 4. Possibility of a referendum If a strong party or lobby threatens to call for a referendum, the parliament might be inclined to a compromise, the formal consultation process gives the public a clear view of the critical aspects and the pros and cons already at an early stage [Presidential Democracy] Laws are debated and passed by the parliament; lobbyists do not have a formal right to be heared, but do exercise some influence on members of parliament in reality; the president may block a law by veto; as the president is elected as a personality (not only as a party leader) by the people (not by the parliament), he may or may not rely on a majority of the parliament (in practice there have been some periods with a president forced to cooperate with a majority of oppositional members of parliament) [Parliamentary Democracy] 
Laws are proposed by the government (being the leaders of the coalition of parties) laws are debated and passed by parliament; lobbyists do not have a formal right to be heared, but do exercise some influence on members of parliament in reality; if there is a solid majority, compromises are sought within the coalition (and may sometimes represent tactics rather than vonviction), the opposition may be ignored until the next elections but then laws may be revoked or changed by a new majority
Systems of Democracy
Parliamentary Democracy