Head of government

A leader helps run a country.

This person has a big job. They work with a group of helpers. This group helps make rules.

This job can have many names. Some are called Prime Ministers. Others are called Chancellors. Some are called Presidents.

In some lands, one person does two jobs. They are the head of the state and the head of the government. In other lands, these are two different people.

Leaders can change. They might leave if they lose an election. They might even leave if they die.

Every country chooses its own way to lead.

A head of government is a top leader. They help run a country or a region. This leader often leads a group called a cabinet. The cabinet is made of ministers who lead different parts of the government.

Many countries have two different leaders. One is the head of state. This person is often a figurehead. A figurehead has a formal role but little power. The other is the head of government. This person is the main political leader. In some places, like France, the president is the head of state. The president picks a prime minister to be the head of government.

In other places, one person does both jobs. This happens in presidential republics. It also happens in absolute monarchies. In these lands, the leader holds all the power. Some leaders have many different titles. They might be called a Chancellor or a Premier. In Switzerland, a group of people shares the work. This is called a directorial system. Each person leads a different part of the government.

A head of government is a very important leader. They are usually the highest or second-highest official in a country. This leader often leads a cabinet. A cabinet is a group of people called ministers or secretaries. These people lead different parts of the government.

The job of a head of government can be different depending on the rules of the land. In some places, there is a separate head of state. The head of state might be a figurehead with little power. The head of government is the person who does the main political work. This leader must often answer to a group of lawmakers called a legislature.

Different systems of government change how leaders work. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often the leader of the biggest political party. They might be called a Prime Minister. In a presidential republic, one person is both the head of state and the head of government. In a semi-presidential system, the two roles are shared. For example, France uses this system. The French president is the head of state. The president picks a prime minister to be the head of government.

Sometimes, the president and the prime minister belong to different parties. This is called cohabitation.

Leaders have many different names around the world. In German-speaking places like Germany or Austria, they might use the title Chancellor. In China, the head of government is called the Premier. Ireland uses the special title Taoiseach. In South Africa, the title is State President. Some leaders have even more power than others. In the past, a leader like Otto von Bismarck was very influential. He was the Chancellor of Germany under Emperor Wilhelm I. Even if a person does not have all the formal power, they can still be a very strong leader.

Some countries do not have just one person in charge. Switzerland uses a directorial system. In this system, a group called the Swiss Federal Council shares the work. Each member of the council leads a different department. They all vote on new ideas together. In communist states, the leader of the party is often the top leader. In China, the general secretary of the Communist Party holds the most power. This has been true since 1993, except during times when leaders change. These different ways of leading help different countries run their daily business.

Being a leader is a big job with many responsibilities. A head of government must manage the country's money and laws. If they lose the support of the legislature, they might have to leave. This can happen through a vote of no confidence. They might also leave if they lose an election. Sometimes, a leader might even be dismissed from their job. If a leader dies, a deputy usually takes over until a new one is picked. These rules help make sure that the government keeps working for the people.

A head of government is a top official in the executive branch of a state. This person is often the highest or second-highest official in a country. They may lead a sovereign state, a federated state, or an autonomous region. Most often, they preside over a cabinet. A cabinet is a group of ministers or secretaries who lead specific executive departments. In the world of diplomacy, this role is distinct from the head of state.

While a head of state represents the nation, the head of government manages the actual business of running it.

The specific powers of this leader depend on a country's chosen government system. In parliamentary systems, the head of government is usually the de facto political leader. This means they are the person actually exercising political power. They are typically answerable to a chamber of the legislature. In these systems, a head of state often exists as a figurehead. A figurehead is a leader who holds a formal position but has limited power. They might only act as chief executive under specific constitutional rules or when receiving advice.

Some countries use different structures to divide power. In presidential republics, the head of state and head of government are usually the same person. In absolute monarchies, one ruler also holds both roles. Semi-presidential systems, like the French Fifth Republic established in 1958, share these roles. In France, the president is the head of state and appoints the prime minister. The prime minister serves as the head of government. If the president's party does not control the National Assembly, a situation called cohabitation occurs. During cohabitation, the prime minister and cabinet control domestic policy. The president's influence is then mostly restricted to foreign affairs.

Other systems distribute leadership in unique ways. In communist states, the general secretary of the Communist Party acts as the supreme leader. This person serves as the de facto head of state and government. In China, the Premier is the de jure head of government. De jure means the person holds the position according to the law. However, the Chinese president is a ceremonial office. Since 1993, the general secretary of the Communist Party has held the real power.

Switzerland uses a directorial system. Here, the Swiss Federal Council shares executive responsibilities. Each council member heads a department and votes on proposals for all departments.

Titles for these leaders vary widely across the globe. Prime Minister is the most common title. In German-speaking countries like Germany and Austria, the title is Chancellor. In Ireland, the head of government is called the Taoiseach. Other titles include Premier, Chief Minister, or First Minister. Some titles are used only in specific places, such as State Counsellor in Myanmar or State President in South Africa. In the past, leaders under a dominant monarch had different names. These included titles like vizier, diwan, or mahamantri. Even without formal supreme power, some leaders have been very influential. For example, Otto von Bismarck was the Chancellor of Germany under Emperor Wilhelm I.

In parliamentary systems, the government must maintain the support of the legislature to function. This is often managed through the ability to pass a budget. Without control over state finances, a government is powerless. The legislature can also use a vote of no confidence to remove a government. In bicameral systems, which have two houses of parliament, the lower house usually provides the most oversight. In some countries, like Australia or Italy, the government is answerable to both houses. This oversight ensures the head of government remains accountable to the people's representatives.

There are several ways a head of government may leave office. They might resign after losing a general election or a leadership vote within their own party. They may also leave if they lose a major parliamentary vote regarding finances or confidence. In some cases, a head of state can dismiss a head of government. This happened in 1975 during the Australian Constitutional Crisis when Sir John Kerr dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Finally, if a leader dies, a deputy usually takes over. This ensures the government continues to function until a new leader is officially appointed.