What's the difference between a prime minister and a president?

Answer 1

Really, the only difference it the title.

However, the title of president is normally only used in a representative republic, where the chief executive is elected directly or indirectly (see electoral college in the US) by the populace.

Similarly, the title of prime minister is normally only used where the the chief executive is chosen by the legislative branch (see England).

But the terms themselves are more tradition than denotational. Just like the term "premier" could be used in place of either of them, and under either governmental model. So, the most important thing is not the term, but rather how the person is selected.

Answer 2

Yes, a Prime Minister usually has effective legislative control whereas a nation with a presidential system usually deprives the president of such control therefore he does not have complete power with respect to things like law making or budgetary matters.

US President versus Canadian Prime Minister or French President versus British Prime Minister.

Answer 3

A prime minister is usually associated with a parliamentary system, selected by the members of the winning coalition elected to the parliament whereas a president is usually the title given to the head honcho in a republic in the American model, (not sure if the American model has a formal name), and sometimes not like the American model at all. At present the White House in the former USA has an illegal occupant who calls himself "president" although he was NEVER elected.

Answer 4

The Prime Minister runs the government and the President represents the state. Their roles are defined by the constitution of the country they are in.

Answer 5

When a country has both a president and a prime minister, the president is typically a symbolic leader and spokesperson for the government, but the PM has the power and actually runs things. Israel has such a system.

Answer 6

Well im with epamler61.