presidentiel

Présidentiel (présidentiel in French) is an adjective and noun used in politics to denote things related to a president or to the presidency. In political science, it designates a constitutional arrangement in which the executive power is concentrated in a president who is elected independently of the legislature. This creates a substantial separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches. In a pure presidential regime, the president is usually both head of state and head of government, serves a fixed term, and is not dependent on parliamentary confidence to stay in office, with removal typically requiring impeachment or other constitutional procedures.

The term is commonly used to describe regimes and electoral processes. A régime présidentiel emphasizes direct election of the president and a government that does not originate from or rely on an absolute parliamentary majority. It is contrasted with parliamentary systems, where the government is elected by the legislature and can be dismissed by it, and with semi-presidential systems, where a president shares executive powers with a prime minister and cabinet.

Élections présidentielles refer to elections in which the presidency is decided by voters. The method of electing the president varies by country: some employ a two-round runoff, others a single-round plurality, and some use alternative vote or other mechanisms. The term also appears in descriptions of constitutional models, political discourse, and comparative politics, where it helps categorize how executive power is formed and maintained.

Historically, several states have adopted or adapted presidential-type arrangements, with notable examples including the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. National practices differ in the scope of presidential powers, term lengths, and the balance with legislative authority, leading to a spectrum from strong to moderate presidential systems.