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{{Executive}} |
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[[Image:Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Abraham Lincoln]], 16<sup>th</sup> [[President of the United States]] (1861-1865)]] |
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:''The majority of this article is about heads of states. For more on other kinds of presidents, see [[#Non-governmental presidents|Non-Governmental Presidents]], below. For more on the usage of term "president", see [[President (history of the term)]].'' |
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'''President''' is a [[title]] held by many leaders of [[organization]]s, [[company|companies]], [[trade union]]s, [[university|universities]], and [[country|countries]]. [[Etymology|Etymologically]], a "president" is one who [[Wiktionary:Preside|presides]], who sits in leadership (from [[Latin]] ''prae-'' "before" + ''sedere'' "to sit"; giving the term [[Praeses]]). Originally, the term referred to the presiding officer of a ceremony or meeting (i.e. [[chairman]]); but today it most commonly refers to an official with [[executive (government)|executive]] powers. |
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Among other things, '''President''' today is a common title for the [[Head of state]] of most [[republic]]s, whether popularly [[election|elected]], chosen by the [[legislature]] or a special [[electoral college]]. It is also often adopted by [[dictator]]s. Jimmy Rubel for pres!!!!!! |
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==Modern history of the designation== |
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Originally the term was used to refer to the presiding officer of a committee or governing body in Great Britain{{fact}}. Later this usage was applied to political leaders. Early examples are from the Universities of [[Oxford]] and [[Cambridge]] (from 1464); the founding [[President of the Royal Society]] [[William Brouncker]] in 1660; heads of individual British colonies (originally Virginia in 1608); and chief officers of banks (from 1781). |
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It was adopted as a title for the "officer in charge of the [[Continental Congress]]" in 1774, [[George Washington]], becoming the first President of a country, the [[President of the United States]] of America. |
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As other countries followed the [[American revolution]], and deposed their monarchies, it was adopted as the title for the new republican Heads of State. The first European president was the [[President of France]], a post created in the [[Second French Republic|Second Republic]] of [[1848]]. (The [[First French Republic|First Republic]] had begun with no separate executive, then established five [[French Directory|Directors]], and finally echoed the ancient [[Roman Republic]] by electing two [[consul]]s at its head.) |
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The first president of an internationally recognized African state was the [[President of Liberia]] in [[1848]]. |
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Today, most [[republic]]s have a President as Head of State. |
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==Presidents in dictatorships== |
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In [[dictatorship]]s, the title is frequently taken by self-appointed and/or military-backed leaders. Such is the case in many African states; [[Idi Amin]] in [[Uganda]], for example. |
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[[President for Life]] is a title assumed by some [[dictator]]s to ensure that their authority or legitimacy is never questioned. |
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[[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]] appointed himself in [[82 BC]] to an entirely new office, dictator [[rei publicae]] constituendae causa, which was functionally identical to the dictatorate rei gerendae causa except that it lacked any set time limit, although Sulla held this office for over two years before he voluntarily abdicated and retired from public life. |
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The second well-known incident of a leader extending his term indefinitely was Roman dictator [[Julius Caesar]], who made himself "[[Roman dictator|Perpetual Dictator]]" (commonly mistranslated as 'Dictator-for-life') in [[45 BC]]. His actions would later be mimicked by the French leader [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] who was appointed "First Consul for life" in [[1802]]. |
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Ironically, most leaders who proclaim themselves President for Life do not in fact successfully serve a life term. Even so presidents like [[Alexandre Sabès dit Pétion]], [[Rafael Carrera]], [[Josip Broz Tito]] and [[François Duvalier]] died in office. |
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The only living officially proclaimed president for life is [[Saparmurat Niyazov]] of [[Turkmenistan]]. |
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Several presidents have ruled until their [[death]], but they have not officially proclaimed themselves as President for Life. For instance, [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]] of [[Romania]], who ruled until his [[execution]] (see [[Romanian revolution]]). [[Makarios III|Archbishop President Makarios]] became [[president of Cyprus]] late in his life (in [[1960]]) and ruled until his [[death]] in [[1977]], having successfully won [[election|re-election]] several times. |
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== Presidential symbols == |
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As the country's head of state, in most countries the president is entitled to certain symbolic honors, as well as luxury perks that come with the office. For example, most of the world's heads of state, including presidents, have a prestigious residence; often a lavish mansion or palace, sometimes more than one (e.g. summer and winter residence, country retreat) - for a list see [[Official residence]]. |
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Furthermore in some nations the Presidency enjoys certain symbols of office, such as an official uniform, decorations, a presidential seal, coat of arms, flag and other visible accessories; military honours such as [[gun salute]]s, [[Ruffles and flourishes]], and a presidential guard. A common presidential symbol is the [[presidential sash]]es worn by [[Latin America]]n presidents as a symbol of the presidency's continuity, and presenting the sash to the new president is a key part of the [[inauguration]] ceremony. |
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== Presidential chronologies of existing, recognized countries == |
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<table width="90%"><tr><td valign=top width=33%> |
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*[[President of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Albania|Albania]] |
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*[[President of Algeria|Algeria]] |
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*[[President of Angola|Angola]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Argentina|Argentina]] |
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*[[President of Austria|Austria]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Bangladesh|Bangladesh]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Benin|Benin]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Bolivia|Bolivia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Botswana|Botswana]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Brazil|Brazil]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Burkina Faso|Burkina Faso]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Burundi|Burundi]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Cameroon|Cameroon]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Cape Verde|Cape Verde]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of the Central African Republic|Central African Republic]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Chad|Chad]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Chile|Chile]] |
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*[[President of the Republic of China|China]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Colombia|Colombia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Comoros|Comoros]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Costa Rica|Costa Rica]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Côte d'Ivoire|Côte d'Ivoire]] |
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*[[President of Croatia|Croatia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Cuba|Cuba]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of the Czech Republic|Czech Republic]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Dominica|Dominica]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of the Dominican Republic|Dominican Republic]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Ecuador|Ecuador]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Ethiopia|Ethiopia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Fiji|Fiji]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Finland|Finland]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of France|France]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Gabon|Gabon]] |
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</td><td valign=top width=33%> |
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*[[Heads of State of The Gambia|The Gambia]] |
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*[[President of Georgia|Georgia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Germany|Germany]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Ghana|Ghana]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Greece|Greece]] |
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*[[President of Guatemala|Guatemala]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Guinea|Guinea]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Guinea-Bissau|Guinea-Bissau]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Guyana|Guyana]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Haiti|Haiti]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Honduras|Honduras]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Hungary|Hungary]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Iceland|Iceland]] |
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*[[Lists of Presidents of India|India]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Indonesia|Indonesia]] |
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*[[President of Iran|Iran]] |
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*[[President of Iraq|Iraq]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Ireland|Ireland]] |
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*[[President of Israel|Israel]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of the Italian Republic|Italy]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Kenya|Kenya]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of North Korea|Korea, North]] |
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*[[President of South Korea|Korea, South]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Latvia|Latvia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Lebanon|Lebanon]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Liberia|Liberia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Lithuania|Lithuania]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Mexico|Mexico]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Nicaragua|Nicaragua]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Niger|Niger]] |
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*[[President of Nigeria|Nigeria]] |
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*[[President of North Yemen|North Yemen]] |
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</td><td valign=top width=33%> |
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*[[List of Presidents of Pakistan|Pakistan]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Panama|Panama]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Paraguay|Paraguay]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Peru|Peru]] |
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*[[President of the Philippines|Philippines]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Poland|Poland]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Portugal|Portugal]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Romania|Romania]] |
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*[[President of Russia|Russia]] |
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*[[President of Serbia|Serbia]] |
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*[[President of Singapore|Singapore]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Slovakia|Slovakia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Slovenia|Slovenia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Somalia|Somalia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Somaliland|Somaliland]] |
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*[[State President of South Africa|South Africa (1961-1994)]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of South Africa|South Africa (1994 – )]] |
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*[[President of South Yemen|South Yemen]] |
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*[[List of Sri Lankan presidents|Sri Lanka]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of the Swiss Confederation|Switzerland]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Tajikistan|Tajikistan]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Trinidad and Tobago|Trinidad and Tobago]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Turkey|Turkey]] |
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*[[President of Uganda|Uganda]] |
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*[[President of Ukraine|Ukraine]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of the United States|United States]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Uruguay|Uruguay]] |
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*[[President of Venezuela|Venezuela]] |
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*[[President of Vietnam|Vietnam]] |
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*[[President of Yemen|Yemen]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Zambia|Zambia]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Zimbabwe|Zimbabwe]] |
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</table> |
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*[[List of Presidents of the European Commission|European Commission]] |
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*[[Leaders of post-Soviet independent states]] |
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== Specific information == |
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*[[President of Argentina]] |
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*[[President of Austria]] |
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*[[President of Brazil]] |
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*[[President of the People's Republic of China]] |
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*[[President of the Republic of China]] |
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*[[President of Croatia]] |
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*[[President of Cuba]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Fiji|President of Fiji]] |
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*[[President of Finland]] |
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*[[President of France]] |
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*[[President of Germany]] |
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*[[President of India]] |
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*[[President of Indonesia]] |
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*[[President of Iraq]] |
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*[[President of Ireland]] |
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*[[President of Israel]] |
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*[[President of Malta]] |
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*[[President of Mexico]] |
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*[[President of Pakistan]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Peru|President of Peru]] |
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*[[President of the Philippines]] |
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*[[President of the Republic of Poland]] |
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*[[President of the Russian Federation]] |
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*[[President of Serbia]] |
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*[[President of South Africa]] |
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*[[President of Switzerland]] |
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*[[List of Presidents of Trinidad and Tobago|President of Trinidad and Tobago]] |
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*[[President of the United States]] |
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==International presidentship== |
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The [[European Union]] is governed in part by the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]], a rotating post held by the member states of the European Union. In the past this has been one individual state presiding for a six-month period; as of [[2007]] it will be three states sharing the presidency during their overlapping 18-month terms. |
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There is also a [[President of the European Commission]], who is appointed, like his portfolio Commissioners, for a whole legislature. |
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== Sub-national presidents== |
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President can also be the title of the chief executive at a lower administrative level, such as the [[Parish President|parish president]]s of the [[parish]]es of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Louisiana]], the presiding member of city council for villages in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]], or the [[municipal president]]s of [[Mexico]]'s [[municipio (Mexico)|municipalities]]. |
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== Non-governmental presidents == |
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''President'' is also used as a title in some non-governmental organizations. |
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The head of a university or non-profit corporation, particularly in the United States of America, is often known as president. In [[university]] systems with multiple independent campuses, the relationship between the roles of [[University President|president]] and [[chancellor (education)|chancellor]] can become quite complicated. President is also a title in many corporations. In some cases the president acts as [[chief operating officer]] under the direction of the [[chief executive officer]]. |
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In British constitutional practice, the chairman of an [[Executive Council]], acting in such a capacity, is known as a [[President of the Executive Council]]. Usually this person is the [[Governor]] but is not always so. |
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In [[France|French]] legal terminology, the president of a court consisting of multiple [[judge]]s is the foremost judge; he chairs the meeting of the court and directs the debates (and this thus addressed as "Mr President", ''Monsieur le Président'', or appropriate feminine forms). In general, a court comprises several chambers, each with its own president; thus the most senior of these is called the "first president" (as in: "the First President of the [[Court of Cassation (France)|Court of Cassation]] is the most senior judge in France"). Similarly in UK legal practice the most senior judge in each division uses this title (e.g. President of the Family Division, President of the Court of Appeal). |
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Many other organizations, clubs, and committees, both political and non-political are led by Presidents as well. Examples can vary from the President of a [[political party]], to the president of a [[chamber of commerce]], to the President of a [[students' union]] and even the president of a [[high school]] chess club. |
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In [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], the head of the church is known as the [[President of the Church (Mormonism)|President]]. Together with his two counselors, they are known as the [[First Presidency]]. This pattern is repeated throughout the church in [[Quorum (Mormonism)|quorums]] and in other bodies, each of which is led by a president. The [[Methodist Church]] in the UK (and also other provinces) is led by the President of the Methodist Council, and assumes the role of leading minister and spokesperson. |
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==Sources and additional reading == |
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{{sectstub}} |
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*The powers, functions and functioning of presidents were reviewed by six international experts for Australia's [[Republic Advisory Committee]] in 1993. Reports by among others Professor [[Klaus Von Beyme]] (on Germany), [[A.G Noorani]] (on India), [[Jim Duffy (author)|Jim Duffy]] (on Ireland) and Sir [[Ellis Clarke]] (on Trinidad and Tobago) outline the role of various presidencies. The full report is called ''An Australian Republic: The Options - The Appendices'' (ISBN 0-644-32589-5) |
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== See also == |
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*[[List of democracy and elections-related topics]] |
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*[[CEOs of major corporations]] |
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*[[Head of state]] |
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*[[Governor-General]] |
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*[[Mayor-President]] |
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*[[Minister-President]] (a head of government, not - of state) |
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*[[Monarch]] |
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*[[Prime Minister]] |
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*[[List of national leaders]] |
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*[[Heads of state timeline]] |
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*[[Federal World Government]] |
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*[[Presidents' Day]] |
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</td> |
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[[Category:Chief executives|*President]] |
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[[Category:Heads of state]] |
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[[Category:Management occupations]] |
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[[Category:Positions of authority|President]] |
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[[Category:Titles]] |
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[[af:President]] |
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[[zh-min-nan:Chóng-thóng]] |
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[[bg:Президент]] |
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[[ca:President]] |
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[[cs:Prezident]] |
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[[cy:Arlywydd]] |
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[[da:Præsident]] |
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[[de:Präsident]] |
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[[el:Πρόεδρος]] |
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[[es:Presidente]] |
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[[eo:Prezidento]] |
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[[fr:Président]] |
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[[gl:Presidente]] |
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[[ko:대통령]] |
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[[hr:Predsjednik]] |
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[[it:Presidente]] |
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[[he:נשיא]] |
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[[ka:პრეზიდენტი]] |
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[[la:Praesidens]] |
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[[lv:Prezidents]] |
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[[lt:Prezidentas]] |
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[[nl:President]] |
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[[ja:大統領]] |
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[[no:President]] |
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[[pl:Prezydent]] |
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[[pt:Presidente]] |
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[[ro:Preşedinte]] |
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[[ru:Президент]] |
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[[sco:Preses]] |
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[[simple:President]] |
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[[fi:Presidentti]] |
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[[sv:President]] |
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[[th:ประธานาธิบดี]] |
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[[vi:Tổng thống]] |
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[[tg:Президент]] |
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[[uk:Президент]] |
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[[yi:פּרעזידענט]] |
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[[zh:總統]] |
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[[zh-classical:總統]] |
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