President (government title)

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President is a common title for the head of state in most republics. Depending on the country, a president could be head of government, a ceremonial figurehead, or something between these two extremes.

Five American Presidents in the White House in 2009
(Left to right: George H. W. Bush, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter)

The functions exercised by a president vary according to the form of government. In parliamentary republics, they are usually, but not always, limited to those of the head of state and are thus largely ceremonial. In presidential and selected parliamentary (e.g. Botswana and South Africa) republics[1][2] the role of the president is more prominent, encompassing the functions of the head of government.[3] In semi-presidential republics, the president has some discretionary powers like over foreign affairs, appointment of the head of government and defence, but they are not themselves head of government.[3] A leader of a one-party state may also hold the position of president for ceremonial purposes or to maintain an official state position.[4]

President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea giving a press briefing in the capital Asmara, 2002

The title "Mr. President"[5][6] may apply to a person holding the title of president or presiding over certain other governmental bodies.[7] "Mr. President" has subsequently been used by governments to refer to their heads of state. It is the conventional translation of non-English titles such as Monsieur le Président for the president of the French Republic. It also has a long history of usage as the title of the presiding officers of legislative and judicial bodies. The speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is addressed as président de la Chambre des communes in French and as Mr. Speaker in English.

  1. ^ "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 – Chapter 5: The President and National Executive". www.gov.za. 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  2. ^ Allard, P (2016). "Government social advertising and ethno-politics in a small, ethnically diverse nation". ResearchGate. p. 67. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b Shugart, MS (2008). "Comparative Executive–Legislative Relations". In Binder, SA; Rhodes, RAW; Rockman, BA (eds.). The Oxford handbook of political institutions (PDF). Oxford University Press. pp. 344–365. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199548460.003.0018. ISBN 978-0-199548460. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  4. ^ "The President, Our Government". The White House. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. ^ Williams, Stephen P. (2004). How to Be President. Chronicle Books. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-8118-4316-4.
  6. ^ Safire, William (24 November 1991). "On Language; Manhandling the Handlers". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Wood, Lewis (13 May 1945). "Mr. President Is correct". The New York Times.