president

President is a common title for the head of state in most republics. The role of a president can vary depending on the country, with some serving as the head of government, a ceremonial figurehead, or some other distinction. The functions exercised by a president vary according to the form of government. In parliamentary republics, they are usually, but not always, limited to those of the head of state and are a largely ceremonial role. An exception to this would be presidential-parliamentary republics (e.g. Botswana and South Africa), where the role of the president is more prominent and encompasses more of the functions of a head of government. The president of a semi-presidential republic has some discretionary powers, such as involvement in foreign affairs or the appointment of the hea...