Difference between revisions of "Head of government"
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| − | The head of government is the person who leads the government of a country. There are two major systems in existence in the world: the prime ministerial system, developed in the UK, and the presidential system, developed in the USA. Most other countries in the world have adopted one or other of these. | + | The '''head of government''' is the person who leads the [[government]] of a country. There are two major systems in existence in the world: the [[Prime Minister|prime ministerial]] system, developed in the [[UK]]{{fact}}, and the [[President|presidential]] system, developed in the [[USA]]{{fact}}. Most other countries in the world have adopted one or other of these{{fact}}. |
| − | 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. |
| − | Some countries do not precisely conform to the above definitions. France, for example, is best described as a mixture of the two. | + | Some countries do not precisely conform to the above definitions. [[France]], for example, is best described as a mixture of the two. [[Dictatorship]]s and [[absolute monarchy|absolute monarchies]] also are not classed as either. |
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Politics]] | [[Category:Politics]] | ||
Revision as of 21:07, April 25, 2007
The head of government is the person who leads the government of a country. There are two major systems in existence in the world: the prime ministerial system, developed in the UK[Citation Needed], and the presidential system, developed in the USA[Citation Needed]. Most other countries in the world have adopted one or other of these[Citation Needed].
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.
Some countries do not precisely conform to the above definitions. France, for example, is best described as a mixture of the two. Dictatorships and absolute monarchies also are not classed as either.