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Head of government

In the executive branch, the head of government is the highest or the second-highest official of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a group of ministers or secretaries who lead executive departments.

Not to be confused with Head of state.

In diplomacy, "head of government" is differentiated from "head of state".[1][2][3][4]


The authority of a head of government, such as a president, chancellor, or prime minister, and the relationship between that position and other state institutions, such as the relation between the head of state and of the legislature, varies greatly among sovereign states, depending largely on the particular system of the government that has been chosen, won, or evolved over time.


In most parliamentary systems, including constitutional monarchies, the head of government is the de facto political leader of the government, and is answerable to at least one chamber of the legislature. Although there is often a formal reporting relationship to a head of state, the latter usually acts as a figurehead who may take the role of chief executive on limited occasions, either when receiving constitutional advice from the head of government or under specific provisions in a constitution.[5]


In presidential republics or in absolute monarchies, the head of state is also usually the head of government.[6] The relationship between that leader and the government, however, can vary greatly, ranging from separation of powers to autocracy, according to the constitution (or other basic laws) of the particular state.


In semi-presidential systems, the head of government may answer to both the head of state and the legislature with the specifics provided by each country's constitution.[7] A modern example is the present French government, which originated as the French Fifth Republic in 1958. In France, the president, the head of state, appoints the prime minister, who is the head of government. However, the president must choose someone who can act effectively as an executive, but who also enjoys the support of France's legislature, the National Assembly, to be able to pass legislation.


In some cases, the head of state may represent one political party but the majority in the National Assembly is of a different party. Given that the majority party has greater control over state funding and primary legislation, the president is in effect forced to choose a prime minister from the opposition party to ensure an effective, functioning legislature. In this case, known as cohabitation, the prime minister, along with the cabinet, controls domestic policy, with the president's influence largely restricted to foreign affairs.


In communist states, the General Secretary of the Communist Party is the supreme leader, serving as de facto head of state and government. In China, the de jure head of government is the Premier. The Chinese president is legally a ceremonial office, but the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (top leader in a one-party system) has always held this office since 1993 except for the months of transition.[8][9]


In directorial systems, the executive responsibilities of the head of government are spread among a group of people. A prominent example is the Swiss Federal Council, where each member of the council heads a department and also votes on proposals relating to all departments.

(primarily in German-speaking countries; today used in Germany and Austria)

Chancellor

(often subnational)

Chief Minister

(often subnational)

Chief Executive

(often subnational)

First Minister

Minister-President

(from French premier ministre)

Premier

President of the Council of Ministers

President of the Council of State

President of the Executive Council

President of the Government

(used exclusively in Myanmar)

State Counsellor

(used exclusively in South Africa)

State President

The head of government — usually the leader of the majority party or  — forms the government, which is answerable to parliament;

coalition

vote of no confidence

in London — Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (who also has a country residence, Chequers)

10 Downing Street

in Canberra — Prime Minister of Australia (with an additional residence, Kirribilli House, in Sydney)

The Lodge

in Ottawa — Prime Minister of Canada (who also has a country residence, Harrington Lake)

24 Sussex Drive

in Wellington — Prime Minister of New Zealand

Premier House

in New Delhi — Prime Minister of India

7, Lok Kalyan Marg

in IslamabadPrime Minister of Pakistan

Prime Minister's Office

in The Hague — Prime Minister of the Netherlands

Catshuis

in Vienna — Chancellor of Austria

Ballhausplatz

in Beijing — Premier of the People's Republic of China

Zhongnanhai

in Tokyo — Prime Minister of Japan

Kantei

in Prague — Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

Kramář's Villa

in Rome — Prime Minister of Italy

Chigi Palace

[note 1] in Paris— Prime Minister of France

Hôtel Matignon

Villa Parkowa in Warsaw—

Prime Minister of Poland

in Berlin — Chancellor of Germany

Federal Chancellery

The Lambermont in Brussels —

Prime Minister of Belgium

in Madrid — President of the Government of Spain

Palacio de la Moncloa

in Lisbon — Prime Minister of Portugal

Palacete de São Bento

in Helsinki — Prime Minister of Finland

Kesäranta

in Stockholm — Prime Minister of Sweden (who also has a country residence, Harpsund)

Sager House

in Moscow — Prime Minister of Russia

Grand Kremlin Palace

Palace of the Governorate in Vatican City —

Governorate of the Vatican City State

in Bangkok - Prime Minister of Thailand

Phitsanulok Mansion

The head of government is often provided with an official residence, often in the same fashion as heads of state often are. The name of the residence is often used as a metonym or alternative title for 'the government' when the office is politically the highest, e.g. in the UK "Downing Street announced today…"


Well-known official residences of heads of government include:


Similarly, heads of government of federal entities below the level of the sovereign state (often without an actual head of state, at least under international law) may also be given an official residence, sometimes used as an opportunity to display aspirations of statehood:


Usually, the residence of the heads of government is not as prestigious and grand as that of the head of state, even if the head of state only performs ceremonial duties. Even the formal representative of the head of state, such as a governor-general, may well be housed in a grander, palace-type residence. However, this is not the case when both positions are combined into one:

World's longest serving unelected head of government: Prince , Prime Minister of Bahrain from 1971 to 2020 (50 years, 315 days).[13]

Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa

World's longest serving monarchical head of government: , Prime Minister of Cambodia from 1998 to 2023 (24 years, 274 days).

Hun Sen

World's longest serving republican head of government: , Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990 (31 years, 178 days).

Lee Kuan Yew

World's longest serving : Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2002 and from 2009 to date (20 years, 144 days).[14][15][16]

female head of government

Head of state

Government

List of current heads of state and government

List of current prime ministers by date of assumption of office

European Council

and Chief operating officer

Chief executive officer

Power behind the throne

Éminence grise

Air transports of heads of state and government

(book)

Official Portraits

World Leaders