What’s the Difference Between a President and a Prime Minister?

Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill

Governments have played a crucial role in human history for thousands of years. Their structure has evolved significantly over time, and while modern political systems vary, many countries now are led by either a president or a prime minister. Though the core roles of these high-ranking officials are fundamentally similar, there are several distinctions between the two positions, including the types of governments they represent, how they are elected, how long they keep their title, and their specific powers.

Head of State vs. Head of Government

A president is almost always the head of state as well as the head of government — not only do they participate in policymaking, but they also may oversee the military and represent the nation diplomatically. A prime minister, meanwhile, is typically the head of government, and while they’re often the most recognizable figurehead of a country, a separate individual serves as the head of state.

In a parliamentary system, the prime minister works closely with the legislative body, Parliament, and must maintain its confidence to stay in power. In constitutional monarchies, such as Canada, the U.K., and Japan, the PM leads Parliament while the head of state may be a king, queen, or emperor. Other countries have both a president and a prime minister. For instance, in parliamentary republics such as Finland and India, a president serves as the head of state and a prime minister governs. A semi-presidential system, such as in France, also has both a president and a prime minister, but the president typically holds significant power.

In countries where the president is also the head of government, such as the U.S., the role includes several executive duties: enacting and enforcing the laws created by Congress, negotiating treaties, appointing Cabinet members and judges, and deploying military forces. A prime minister, meanwhile, also leads their country’s government, overseeing the federal agenda, directing policy development and decisions, and choosing Cabinet members who will carry out the work. Even though a PM is not an official head of state, they often undertake diplomatic functions as a prominent representative of the country.

How They’re Elected

There are differences in how long presidents and prime ministers can serve in office, and how they are elected. Presidents often serve fixed terms, such as the four-year term of the U.S. president, with limits on reelection in place so one person can’t stay in power for too long. Prime ministers, on the other hand, don’t have fixed terms, and can stay in office as long as they have the majority of the legislature’s support.

When it comes to elections, presidents often run on individual campaigns designed to stand out from their opponents. They’re elected either directly by the people, as in Brazil, or by an electoral system, such as the Electoral College in the U.S. A prime minister, conversely, is not elected directly by the public. The public instead votes for a local representative of a political party and their platform. The party that wins the most seats in the legislature forms the federal government, and that party’s leader is appointed prime minister by the legislature. In a parliamentary system, it’s crucial that the prime minister maintains the support of the majority of Parliament; if confidence in the PM is lost, the legislature can call for a vote of no confidence, triggering a resignation or a new election. Presidents can also be removed from office by the legislature, depending on a country’s laws.

Checks and Balances

In countries where the president is the head of state and head of government, there is typically a system of checks and balances to ensure no one person or group has total control. In the U.S., for instance, the president can suggest laws and veto them, but can’t make them; that power belongs to Congress, which can also override a presidential veto if enough members agree. Parliamentary systems also diffuse governmental power, although the prime minister’s executive branch of government works more directly with the legislative branch (Parliament). In both forms of government, these systems aim not only to balance power, but also to ensure stability and, ultimately, accountability to the voters.