“The UK has a president.”
Usage Entry 1333 / 1350 60-second read
Prime Minister vs. President
The head of government chosen by the legislature (parliamentary) versus head of state directly or indirectly elected (presidential).
The comparisoni
“The UK has a prime minister (head of government) and a monarch (head of state). The US has a president who is both.”
The ruleii
¶
PM = parliamentary head. PRESIDENT = elected head.
PRIME MINISTER is typically the head of government in a parliamentary system — chosen by the legislature, usually the leader of the majority party (UK, India, Canada, Japan). PRESIDENT is the head of state, often elected directly or indirectly — and may or may not be head of government depending on the system (US: both; France: both; Germany: ceremonial).
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
PM leads government. President is head of state.