Prime Minister

A prime minister may be either:

Prime ministers in republics and in monarchies

The post of prime minister is one which may be encountered both in constitutional monarchies (such as Belgium, Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and in republics in which the head of state is an elected (such as France) or unelected official (such as Germany) with varying degrees of real power. This contrasts with the presidential system, in which the President (or equivalent) is both the head of state and the head of the government. See also "First Minister" , "Premier", "Chief Minister" and "Chancellor": alternative titles usually equivalent in meaning to "prime minister."

Related Topics:
Monarchies - Belgium - Denmark - Japan - The Netherlands - Norway - Spain - United Kingdom - Republic - France - Germany - Presidential system - President - First Minister - Premier - Chief Minister - Chancellor

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In some presidential or semi-presidential systems such as those of France, Russia, South Korea, or Taiwan the prime minister is an official generally appointed by the President but approved by the legislature and responsible for carrying out the directives of the President and managing the civil service. In these systems, it is possible for the president and the prime minister to be from different political parties if the legislature is controlled by a party different from that of the president. When it arises, such a state of affairs is usually referred to as (political) cohabitation.

Related Topics:
Presidential - Semi-presidential - France - Russia - South Korea - Taiwan - Cohabitation

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