In a prime ministerial system, the prime minister is ''always'' a member of the legislature, and is never the [[head of state]]. In a presidential system, the president is ''never'' a member of the legislature, and is always the [[head of state]]. Confusingly, however, many countries with a prime ministerial system often have a head of state who is also called a "president", but without executive power. Other prime ministerial countries have a hereditary monarch as head of state. Countries with a presidential system cannot be monarchies, however. | In a prime ministerial system, the prime minister is ''always'' a member of the legislature, and is never the [[head of state]]. In a presidential system, the president is ''never'' a member of the legislature, and is always the [[head of state]]. Confusingly, however, many countries with a prime ministerial system often have a head of state who is also called a "president", but without executive power. Other prime ministerial countries have a hereditary monarch as head of state. Countries with a presidential system cannot be monarchies, however. |