headofstate

The head of state, sometimes written as headofstate in plain text, is the public figure who represents a country in external affairs and embodies national unity. The role’s scope varies by constitution and tradition; it may be entirely ceremonial or carry substantial political powers depending on the state.

In many parliamentary democracies the head of state is separate from the head of government and performs largely ceremonial duties, while the prime minister or equivalent leads government policy. In presidential systems the president may be both head of state and head of government. Semi-presidential systems split these responsibilities between a president and a prime minister.

Selection and tenure differ: monarchies typically confer the role by birth, whereas republics elect heads of state for a fixed term. Some are hereditary, several are elected by an electoral college or parliament, and others are directly elected. Removal mechanisms also vary, including impeachment or constitutional processes.

Common functions include representing the country abroad, signing treaties and laws subject to constitutional limits, receiving foreign leaders, and performing ceremonial duties such as state functions and national holidays. The precise powers of the head of state are defined by a country’s constitution and political practices.

Examples illustrate the range: constitutional monarchies like Sweden place the head of state in a largely symbolic role; the United States combines head of state and head of government in a presidential system; France maintains a powerful president in a semi-presidential framework; Germany has a largely ceremonial head of state with the chancellor as head of government.