President and Prime Minister?

[TommyC1776]

What's the difference between a president and a prime minister?  I mean oike in their jobs.

[Kodratos]

In a parliamentary democracy a prime minister is an elected representitive to parliament. It would be like the Speaker of the House. He is appointed by the party.

A president is directly elected to that position by the people and does not vote in congress

[JohnFKennedy]

A president is directly elected to that position by the people and does not vote in congress

Not quite directly elected, aren't the electors of the states in the USA free to cast their votes for whomever they want?

[bullmoose88]

Often Prime Ministers are the head of government, but not the head of state. Where as Presidents are usually (except in parliamentary systems where they are figure heads) are both.

Though the latter is ceremonial.

[Kodratos]

A president is directly elected to that position by the people and does not vote in congress

Not quite directly elected, aren't the electors of the states in the USA free to cast their votes for whomever they want?

Some are, some aren't. It is also unusual for them to do so. I was giving him a VERY basic answer. I think in many other countries though the president is directly elected.

[JohnFKennedy]

A president is directly elected to that position by the people and does not vote in congress

Not quite directly elected, aren't the electors of the states in the USA free to cast their votes for whomever they want?

Some are, some aren't. It is also unusual for them to do so. I was giving him a VERY basic answer. I think in many other countries though the president is directly elected.

Yes, in some they are indeed.

Aren't there some nations where the Presidency is hereditary much like a monarchy.

[Jens]

Often Prime Ministers are the head of government, but not the head of state. Where as Presidents are usually (except in parliamentary systems where they are figure heads) are both.

Though the latter is ceremonial.

In some parliamentary democracies like Finland and France, the president and the PM takes care of different parts of governing. In the "good old" days in Finland the President took care of the foreign policy while the guvernment and the PM handled the interior.
- But most Parliamentary Democracies the role of the Precident (or Monarch) are ceremonial as Bullmoose says (but acording to the Danish constitution the monarch still is head of state, must sign all legislation and has the right to fire a government - nobody takes that seriously - the last one who tried to do that (Christian X in 1920) nearly lost his throne

[bullmoose88]

Often Prime Ministers are the head of government, but not the head of state. Where as Presidents are usually (except in parliamentary systems where they are figure heads) are both.

Though the latter is ceremonial.

In some parliamentary democracies like Finland and France, the president and the PM takes care of different parts of governing. In the "good old" days in Finland the President took care of the foreign policy while the guvernment and the PM handled the interior.
- But most Parliamentary Democracies the role of the Precident (or Monarch) are ceremonial as Bullmoose says (but acording to the Danish constitution the monarch still is head of state, must sign all legislation and has the right to fire a government - nobody takes that seriously - the last one who tried to do that (Christian X in 1920) nearly lost his throne

Yeah. France is a Semi-Presidential System...as is Russia.

[TommyC1776]

Why do countries have both a President and a Prime Minister?  Is the PM of the country like our Vice-President?

[Kodratos]

No, they handle differant affairs, however the PM is usually much more important

[Gustaf]

Israel, briefly, actually had directly elected PMs, but I don't know if anyone else ever had this. But I think the key point is that a OM is head of government, presidents heads of state. Though the latter are often also heads of government. France has both, the PM heads the government and is dependent on the parliament, the president is directly elected.

[bullmoose88]

President usually handles foreign affairs, PM domestic

when opposite parties control the Pres and PM, the PM tends to have more power...

when both are under the same control, the President tends to have an edge.

[Jens]

It has (I think) a lot to do with the separation of powers. The Government makes the legislation - the President sees that it is radifided - and the courts judges by it. A bit different from the US system and very different from the Scandinavian system.


(Pist Gustaf, it's way past your bedtime )

[YoMartin]

A president is directly elected to that position by the people and does not vote in congress

Not quite directly elected, aren't the electors of the states in the USA free to cast their votes for whomever they want?

They are elected by the people, even if not directly, in the sense that the body that takes the decission has no autonomy. It´s just a formality. Different is when Parliament freely does the selection.

[YoMartin]

Israel, briefly, actually had directly elected PMs, but I don't know if anyone else ever had this. But I think the key point is that a OM is head of government, presidents heads of state. Though the latter are often also heads of government. France has both, the PM heads the government and is dependent on the parliament, the president is directly elected.

The israeli system was very stupid: the PM was elected independently, but the Knesset could fire him. Of course, they abandoned it quickly.

[freek]

In a parliamentary democracy a prime minister is an elected representitive to parliament.

Not in all parliamentary democracies. . E.g. in the Netherlands a minister (and also a prime minister) is not a member of parliament. When MPs are appointed as minister, they lose their seat in parliament. Also people who are not member of parliament can be appointed as (prime) minister.

[Jens]

In a parliamentary democracy a prime minister is an elected representitive to parliament.

Not in all parliamentary democracies. . E.g. in the Netherlands a minister (and also a prime minister) is not a member of parliament. When MPs are appointed as minister, they lose their seat in parliament. Also people who are not member of parliament can be appointed as (prime) minister.

Same in Denmark and the Prime Minister doesn't even have to have a majority - as long as there isn't a majority against him he can stay. At one point, we had a government that only controlled 22 of the 179 seats in the Diet. It lasted a whole year!

[raggage]

Yes,

It's similar in New Zealand and Australia, where I used to lecture. In those systems the Prime Minister is the most important figure. The Prime Minister is a member of the lower house (NZ has no upper house, AU has a senate) and takes a key role in formulating policy. Much like the president of the united states, the PM of these respective nations appoint the cabinet, and may dismiss them and reshuffle portfolios at their whim.

The head of state in these countries, and canada as well is ceremonially the Queen of England. She however is nominal and represented by the Governor General, who is really nothing more than a figurehead, who can't get a glass of lemonade without asking. The governor general, through the PM's approval, may do things the President of the US cannot do, such as dissolve parliament, fire a government, and call fresh elections. She (New Zealand & Canada)/He (Australia) can also veto legislation, but these are known as the reserve powers and are almost never used by convention. So the buck stops with the PM and the cabinet.

[Platypus]

Kerr...

[Carey]

Why do countries have both a President and a Prime Minister?  Is the PM of the country like our Vice-President?

No, as far as powers and responsibilities go, the position in the US government that would be closest to that of a foregn PM would be the White House Chief of Staff.

A Prime Minister's traditional job is to manage the Cabinet. A President's traditional job is to lead the country. The Cabinet's traditional job is to advise the President of the best policies/actions.

[raggage]

Why do countries have both a President and a Prime Minister?  Is the PM of the country like our Vice-President?

The Cabinet's traditional job is to advise the President of the best policies/actions.

Not really, Ministers or Secretaries (terms differ for different countries), actually traditionally had the job of managing an executive department, not advising the president. And the cabinet of the United States does exactly that, the president has his own staff of advisors separate from cabinet.

[Carey]

There are two differences between Ministers/Secretaries and advisors:

1. Ministers/Secretaries are usually offically recognised by the government and sometimes that nation's constitution and are regarded as Government positions, whears advisors are not, and are regarded as personal staff members for the leader.

2. Advisors have no authority whatsoever, whereas Cabinet members have limited authority.

3. A Minister/Secretary is the head of a department. An advisor is just an expert in a department's field.

The one thing they both have in common: Their actions and commands are answerable to their leader. Even in places where the HoS is a figurehead, the actions of the government are still done with the consent of that head. For that reason, and that reason alone, cabinet is considered advisory, because - although it has executive power - it does not act without consent of the President or whoever.