De facto head of state

A de facto head of state is an office-holder who fulfils some, many or all of the functions of a head of state. However legally they, are not a head of state but simply act like a head of state in the absence of the state's legal and official, or de jure, head of state.

Related Topics:
De facto - Head of state

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The term "de facto head of state", though it has no constitutional status, is often used informally in Commonwealth Realms to describe the role of a governor-general. Commonwealth Realms, a specific category of state within the Commonwealth of Nations, are legally constitutional monarchies, all of whom have their own legally defined monarchy but who share the one monarch, whomever happens also to be monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Governors-General are constitutionally the representative of the monarch in their state, through they may exercise some or all of their powers, functions and duties on their own constitutional authority as governor-general.

Related Topics:
Commonwealth Realm - Governor-general - Commonwealth of Nations - Constitutional monarchies - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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