To compare two systems of government, pick the same criteria for both and write each point as a pair in one sentence. Two separate descriptions are not a comparison.
This lesson closes the skills in constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. For the command word itself, see decoding state, explain, compare and evaluate.
What are matched criteria?
Matched criteria are the same questions asked of both systems. Good choices are: who held power, who advised the ruler, and what the law rested on.
The criteria make your answer a table in your head. Each row gives one similarity or difference.
Worked example: the Malacca Sultanate and modern Malaysia
This comparison is simplified, so check the exact titles in your textbook.
In the Malacca Sultanate, the Sultan stood at the top, and the Hukum Kanun Melaka describes a bureaucracy led by the Bendahara, followed by the Temenggung, the Penghulu Bendahari and the Syahbandar 1.
In modern Malaysia, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is head of state and acts on Cabinet advice in most matters 2, and the courts work under the Federal Constitution 3.
| Criterion | Malacca Sultanate | Modern constitutional system |
|---|---|---|
| Who held power | The Sultan at the top, with senior officials led by the Bendahara | Shared between Parliament, Cabinet and courts |
| Who advised the ruler | Senior officials, led by the Bendahara | The Cabinet, which answers to Parliament |
| Legal basis | The Hukum Kanun Melaka, the sultanate’s law code | The Federal Constitution, the supreme law |
Two similarities also help: both systems have a ruler at the top of the system, and both need officials to carry out decisions.
A written model
“In the Malacca Sultanate, power lay mainly with the Sultan and senior officials led by the Bendahara, whereas in modern Malaysia power is shared between Parliament, the Cabinet and the courts. Both systems used officials to carry out decisions. However, in Malacca the law rested on the Hukum Kanun Melaka, while today it rests on the Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law.”
The paragraph uses “whereas”, “both” and “however” to link each pair.
The mistake that costs marks
The usual error is to write a paragraph on the old system followed by a paragraph on the new one. The marker sees two descriptions and no comparison.
| Version | Judgement |
|---|---|
| “Malacca had a Bendahara. Modern Malaysia has a Cabinet.” | Two statements, no link |
| “Malacca relied on the Bendahara as head of its officials, whereas modern Malaysia relies on a Cabinet answerable to Parliament.” | A linked comparison |
How do you plan the comparison?
Draw a two-column table with three rows before writing. Fill each cell in three to five words, then turn each row into one sentence.
If you run short of time, write two rows well rather than three rows badly.
Check yourself
Write one linked comparison sentence on “legal basis” using the table above.
Answer
“In the Malacca Sultanate the law rested on the Hukum Kanun Melaka, whereas in modern Malaysia it rests on the Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law.”
The sentence names both systems, uses “whereas” to link them, and covers one criterion only, which keeps it clear.
What to study next
Try the practice set to use all four skills. The evidence-to-explanation planner helps you plan each comparison.
For teacher support, see online one-to-one Sejarah tuition.