Separating head of state (ceremonial leader) from head of government (administrative leader)
I really don't get the point of this, even in other countries. Why have a guy who has no real power and does nothing? What even is the real distinction between head of state and head of government? Like how is the Prime Minister of a parliament any different from a President? How are their ministers/chancellors/secretaries/whatever any different from the Cabinet? It all just sounds like an executive branch to me. The only real difference is that each of those people is also a member of the legislative branch, which is fine but that doesn't require some ceremonial head of state.
From what I can tell the ceremonial head of state originates in constitutional monarchies and is pointless when you end said monarchies. Yet republics do it anyway.
Some people are voting based on policy. Some people vote for who they want to see in the news for the next four years. Do you really want those to be the same election?
Sometimes the head of government is in charge of making legislation, while the head of state is in charge of enforcing it. Heads of state can control militaries, appoint ministers/secretaries, but can’t actually go against the policy wishes of the government.
Where is it done that way? Parliamentary republics place enforcing of legislation, appointing ministers, controlling militaries, etc in the Prime Minister's lap, no? They are heads of state in all but name.
I think North Korea? Kim’s the head of state and controls the military, but there’s this other dude who’s the prime minister. Kim’s also the party chairman though, so he has more power than just a head of state. Their system gets even more confusing though, because they actually have two governments that switch power every now and then.
Edit: nvm I got it backwards. The prime minister is the executive, but he’s only a third of the executive, and shares power with the head of state and commander in chief, neither of which are apparently Kim? I need to find an actual book on North Korea because wikipedia makes this sound like the most convoluted system ever.
I really don't get the point of this, even in other countries. Why have a guy who has no real power and does nothing? What even is the real distinction between head of state and head of government? Like how is the Prime Minister of a parliament any different from a President? How are their ministers/chancellors/secretaries/whatever any different from the Cabinet? It all just sounds like an executive branch to me. The only real difference is that each of those people is also a member of the legislative branch, which is fine but that doesn't require some ceremonial head of state.
From what I can tell the ceremonial head of state originates in constitutional monarchies and is pointless when you end said monarchies. Yet republics do it anyway.
Some people are voting based on policy. Some people vote for who they want to see in the news for the next four years. Do you really want those to be the same election?
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Also, ceremony is an important part of civic life. Ignoring it is ignoring the fact that we're social animals.
It's literally just to deceive the rubes
Sometimes the head of government is in charge of making legislation, while the head of state is in charge of enforcing it. Heads of state can control militaries, appoint ministers/secretaries, but can’t actually go against the policy wishes of the government.
Where is it done that way? Parliamentary republics place enforcing of legislation, appointing ministers, controlling militaries, etc in the Prime Minister's lap, no? They are heads of state in all but name.
I think North Korea? Kim’s the head of state and controls the military, but there’s this other dude who’s the prime minister. Kim’s also the party chairman though, so he has more power than just a head of state. Their system gets even more confusing though, because they actually have two governments that switch power every now and then.
Edit: nvm I got it backwards. The prime minister is the executive, but he’s only a third of the executive, and shares power with the head of state and commander in chief, neither of which are apparently Kim? I need to find an actual book on North Korea because wikipedia makes this sound like the most convoluted system ever.