State Elder

The State Elder (Estonian: riigivanem), sometimes also translated as Head of State, was the official title of the Estonian head of state from 1920 to 1937. He combined some of the functions held by a president and prime minister in most other democracies. According to the 1920 Estonian Constitution, which was enforced by the "Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, the Referendum Act and the Citizens’s Initiative Act Implementation Act" on July 2, 1920, after being approved by the Constituent Assembly on June 16, 1920 (Riigi Teataja August 9, 1920 No. 113/114), the Government of the Republic consisted of the riigivanem (State Elder) and Ministers (Section 58). The responsibilities of the State Elder were representing the Republic of Estonia, administration and co-ordination of the activi...