Prime_minister

context: A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime minister is the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet. In a minority of systems, notably in semi-presidential systems of government, a prime minister is the official who is appointed to manage the civil service and execute the directives of the head of state.
qas: answers: text: executive
question: What branch of government does the prime minister lead?

answers: text: cabinet
question: What group is the prime minister usually in charge of?

answers: text: civil service
question: In some political models like semi-presidential systems, what does the prime minister manage?

context: In parliamentary systems fashioned after the Westminster system, the prime minister is the presiding and actual head of government and head of the executive branch. In such systems, the head of state or the head of state's official representative (i.e. the monarch, president, or governor-general) usually holds a largely ceremonial position, although often with reserve powers.
qas: answers: text: Westminster system
question: What is a parliamentary model on which other systems have been based?

answers: text: ceremonial
question: What kind of role is the head of state in Westminster-based parliamentary governments?

context: The prime minister is often, but not always, a member of parliament[clarification needed] and is expected with other ministers to ensure the passage of bills through the legislature. In some monarchies the monarch may also exercise executive powers (known as the royal prerogative) that are constitutionally vested in the crown and may be exercised without the approval of parliament.
qas: answers: text: ensure the passage of bills
question: What is a central duty of the prime minister?

answers: text: royal prerogative
question: What is it called when a monarch has a share of executive powers?

answers: text: parliament
question: Using royal prerogative does not require the consent of which body?

context: As well as being head of government, a prime minister may have other roles or titles—the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for example, is also First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. Prime ministers may take other ministerial posts—for example, during the Second World War, Winston Churchill was also Minister of Defence (although there was then no Ministry of Defence), and in the current cabinet of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu also serves as Minister of Communications, Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, Economy and Interior
qas: answers: text: First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service
question: What are two other job titles of the Prime Minister of the  UK?

answers: text: Minister of Defence
question: In addition to being Prime Minister, what other role did Winston Churchill serve during World War II?

context: The first actual usage of the term prime minister or Premier Ministre[citation needed] was used by Cardinal Richelieu when in 1625 he was named to head the royal council as prime minister of France. Louis XIV and his descendants generally attempted to avoid giving this title to their chief ministers.
qas: answers: text: 1625
question: When was the title of prime minister first used?

answers: text: Cardinal Richelieu
question: Who coined the term prime minister?

answers: text: France
question: What country did Richelieu serve as prime minister for?

answers: text: Louis XIV
question: Who started a tradition of naming the head ministers something other than prime minister?

context: The term prime minister in the sense that we know it originated in the 18th century in the United Kingdom when members of parliament disparagingly used the title in reference to Sir Robert Walpole. Over time, the title became honorific and remains so in the 21st century.
qas: answers: text: 18th century
question: When did the modern usage of prime minister come into being?

answers: text: Sir Robert Walpole
question: Who was referenced as prime minister in a negative manner when the term was first used in its modern sense?

context: The monarchs of England and the United Kingdom had ministers in whom they placed special trust and who were regarded as the head of the government. Examples were Thomas Cromwell under Henry VIII; William Cecil, Lord Burghley under Elizabeth I; Clarendon under Charles II and Godolphin under Queen Anne. These ministers held a variety of formal posts, but were commonly known as "the minister", the "chief minister", the "first minister" and finally the "prime minister".
qas: answers: text: Thomas Cromwell
question: Who occupied the role that would later become prime minister under Henry VIII?

answers: text: Godolphin
question: Who held the equivalent of the post of prime minister under Queen Anne?

answers: text: Clarendon
question: Who served as the head minister under Charles II?

context: The power of these ministers depended entirely on the personal favour of the monarch. Although managing the parliament was among the necessary skills of holding high office, they did not depend on a parliamentary majority for their power. Although there was a cabinet, it was appointed entirely by the monarch, and the monarch usually presided over its meetings.
qas: answers: text: the monarch
question: From whom did ministers derive their power?

answers: text: the monarch
question: Who was responsible for naming people to serve in the cabinet?

context: When the monarch grew tired of a first minister, he or she could be dismissed, or worse: Cromwell was executed and Clarendon driven into exile when they lost favour. Kings sometimes divided power equally between two or more ministers to prevent one minister from becoming too powerful. Late in Anne's reign, for example, the Tory ministers Harley and St John shared power.
qas: answers: text: Harley and St John
question: Who are the two ministers used by Queen Anne simultaneously?

answers: text: Clarendon
question: Who was exiled when he lost the favor of the monarch?

context: In the mid 17th century, after the English Civil War (1642–1651), Parliament strengthened its position relative to the monarch then gained more power through the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and passage of the Bill of Rights in 1689. The monarch could no longer establish any law or impose any tax without its permission and thus the House of Commons became a part of the government. It is at this point that a modern style of prime minister begins to emerge.
qas: answers: text: Glorious Revolution
question: What 1688 event helped the parliament solidy its power against the monarch?

answers: text: Bill of Rights
question: What 1689 law contributed to parliament's growing power?

answers: text: House of Commons
question: What body was incorporated into the government as a result of the Bill of Rights?

context: A tipping point in the evolution of the prime ministership came with the death of Anne in 1714 and the accession of George I to the throne. George spoke no English, spent much of his time at his home in Hanover, and had neither knowledge of, nor interest in, the details of English government. In these circumstances it was inevitable that the king's first minister would become the de facto head of the government.
qas: answers: text: George I
question: The reign of which king was a turning point in the growth of the position of prime minister?

answers: text: 1714
question: In what year did Queen Anne die?

answers: text: Hanover
question: Where was George I's home?

context: From 1721 this was the Whig politician Robert Walpole, who held office for twenty-one years. Walpole chaired cabinet meetings, appointed all the other ministers, dispensed the royal patronage and packed the House of Commons with his supporters. Under Walpole, the doctrine of cabinet solidarity developed. Walpole required that no minister other than himself have private dealings with the king, and also that when the cabinet had agreed on a policy, all ministers must defend it in public, or resign. As a later prime minister, Lord Melbourne, said, "It matters not what we say, gentlemen, so long as we all say the same thing."
qas: answers: text: twenty-one years
question: For how long did Robert Walpole serve as prime minister?

answers: text: Whig
question: What party did Walpole belong to?

answers: text: doctrine of cabinet solidarity
question: What concept took shape during Walpole's tenure as prime minister?

answers: text: resign
question: What would a minister have to do if he did not publicly support a cabinet policy?

answers: text: Lord Melbourne
question: Who is another prime minister who reiterated the principles of cabinet solidarity?

context: Walpole always denied that he was "prime minister", and throughout the 18th century parliamentarians and legal scholars continued to deny that any such position was known to the Constitution. George II and George III made strenuous efforts to reclaim the personal power of the monarch, but the increasing complexity and expense of government meant that a minister who could command the loyalty of the Commons was increasingly necessary. The long tenure of the wartime prime minister William Pitt the Younger (1783–1801), combined with the mental illness of George III, consolidated the power of the post. The title was first referred to on government documents during the administration of Benjamin Disraeli but did not appear in the formal British Order of precedence until 1905.
qas: answers: text: parliamentarians and legal scholars
question: Aside from Walpole, who else denied that there was no such thing as the prime minister?

answers: text: George II and George III
question: Which kings tried to get power back to the monarchy?

answers: text: Benjamin Disraeli
question: During whose government did prime minister first see use on official state documents?

answers: text: 1905
question: When was the position of prime minister finally formalized?

context: By the late 20th century, the majority of the world's countries had a prime minister or equivalent minister, holding office under either a constitutional monarchy or a ceremonial president. The main exceptions to this system have been the United States and the presidential republics in Latin America modelled on the U.S. system, in which the president directly exercises executive authority.
qas: answers: text: president
question: In the U.S. and governments modeled on it, who holds executive power?

context: Bahrain's prime minister, Sheikh Khalifah bin Sulman Al Khalifah has been in the post since 1970, making him the longest serving non-elected prime minister.
qas: answers: text: Sheikh Khalifah bin Sulman Al Khalifah
question: Which non-elected official has held the longest term as prime minister?

answers: text: 1970
question: When did Khalifa first take the post of prime minister?

answers: text: Bahrain
question: What country does Khalifah serve for as prime minister?

context: The post of prime minister may be encountered both in constitutional monarchies (such as Belgium, Denmark, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Malaysia, Morocco, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom), and in parliamentary republics in which the head of state is an elected official (such as Finland ,the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Pakistan, Portugal, Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey). See also "First Minister", "Premier", "Chief Minister", "Chancellor", "Taoiseach", "Statsminister" and "Secretary of State": alternative titles usually equivalent in meaning to, or translated as, "prime minister".
qas: answers: text: parliamentary republics
question: Greece, Finland, Romania and Turkey use what kind of government?

answers: text: parliamentary republics
question: In whic type of government is the leader elected?

context: This contrasts with the presidential system, in which the president (or equivalent) is both the head of state and the head of the government. In some presidential or semi-presidential systems, such as those of France, Russia or South Korea, the prime minister is an official generally appointed by the president but usually approved by the legislature and responsible for carrying out the directives of the president and managing the civil service. The head of government of the People's Republic of China is referred to as the Premier of the State Council and the premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is also appointed by the president, but requires no approval by the legislature.
qas: answers: text: Premier of the State Council
question: What is the term for the head of China's government?

answers: text: Taiwan
question: What is another name for the Republic of China?

answers: text: legislature
question: Whose consent is not required for the Taiwanese premier to take office?

context: Appointment of the prime minister of France requires no approval by the parliament either, but the parliament may force the resignation of the government. In these systems, it is possible for the president and the prime minister to be from different political parties if the legislature is controlled by a party different from that of the president. When it arises, such a state of affairs is usually referred to as (political) cohabitation.
qas: answers: text: cohabitation
question: What is the term for a situation in which the president and prime minister come from different political parties?

answers: text: resignation of the government
question: What can the French parliament cause in order to oust the prime minister?

context: Bangladesh's constitution clearly outlines the functions and powers of the Prime Minister, and also details the process of his/her appointment and dismissal.
qas: answers: text: Bangladesh's
question: Which constitution details the role and abilities of the prime minister?

answers: text: the process of his/her appointment and dismissal
question: What other considerations are included in the constitution of Bangladesh as regards the prime minister?

context: The People's Republic of China constitution set a premier just one place below the National People's Congress in China. Premier read as (Simplified Chinese: 总理; pinyin: Zŏnglĭ) in Chinese.
qas: answers: text: the National People's Congress
question: What is directly above the premier in the People's Republic of China?

answers: text: Zŏnglĭ
question: What is the pinyin form of premier?

context: Canada's constitution, being a 'mixed' or hybrid constitution (a constitution that is partly formally codified and partly uncodified) originally did not make any reference whatsoever to a prime minister, with her or his specific duties and method of appointment instead dictated by "convention". In the Constitution Act, 1982, passing reference to a "Prime Minister of Canada" is added, though only regarding the composition of conferences of federal and provincial first ministers.
qas: answers: text: the Constitution Act
question: Which law first referred to the prime minister in Canada?

answers: text: 1982
question: When was the Constitution Act passed?

answers: text: federal and provincial first ministers
question: The Constitution Act mentions the prime minister in the context of which kinds of other ministers?

context: Czech Republic's constitution clearly outlines the functions and powers of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, and also details the process of his/her appointment and dismissal.
qas: answers: text: constitution
question: What document details the role and abilities given to the prime minister of the Czech Republic?

context: The United Kingdom's constitution, being uncodified and largely unwritten, makes no mention of a prime minister. Though it had de facto existed for centuries, its first mention in official state documents did not occur until the first decade of the twentieth century. Accordingly, it is often said "not to exist", indeed there are several instances of parliament declaring this to be the case. The prime minister sits in the cabinet solely by virtue of occupying another office, either First Lord of the Treasury (office in commission), or more rarely Chancellor of the Exchequer (the last of whom was Balfour in 1905).
qas: answers: text: first decade of the twentieth century
question: When was prime minister first mentioned in a government document in the UK?

answers: text: Balfour
question: Who was the last prime minister to serve simultaneously as Chancellor of the Exchequer?

answers: text: 1905
question: When did Balfour last hold the titles of prime minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer?

context: Most prime ministers in parliamentary systems are not appointed for a specific term in office and in effect may remain in power through a number of elections and parliaments. For example, Margaret Thatcher was only ever appointed prime minister on one occasion, in 1979. She remained continuously in power until 1990, though she used the assembly of each House of Commons after a general election to reshuffle her cabinet.
qas: answers: text: Margaret Thatcher
question: Which prime minister was appointed only one time?

answers: text: 1979
question: When was Thatcher appointed prime minister?

answers: text: 1990
question: When did Thatcher last hold power?

answers: text: cabinet
question: What did Margaret Thatcher reconfigure following each general election?

context: Some states, however, do have a term of office of the prime minister linked to the period in office of the parliament. Hence the Irish Taoiseach is formally 'renominated' after every general election. (Some constitutional experts have questioned whether this process is actually in keeping with the provisions of the Irish constitution, which appear to suggest that a taoiseach should remain in office, without the requirement of a renomination, unless s/he has clearly lost the general election.) The position of prime minister is normally chosen from the political party that commands majority of seats in the lower house of parliament.
qas: answers: text: Taoiseach
question: What is the name of the prime ministerial position in Ireland?

answers: text: the political party that commands majority of seats in the lower house of parliament
question: From where is the Irish prime minister usually selected?

answers: text: after every general election
question: When is the Irish Taoiseach renominated?

context: In parliamentary systems, governments are generally required to have the confidence of the lower house of parliament (though a small minority of parliaments, by giving a right to block supply to upper houses, in effect make the cabinet responsible to both houses, though in reality upper houses, even when they have the power, rarely exercise it). Where they lose a vote of confidence, have a motion of no confidence passed against them, or where they lose supply, most constitutional systems require either:
qas: answers: text: lower house of parliament
question: Most parliamentary governments need to have the support of what governmental body?

answers: text: upper houses
question: Which political division does not often utilize its power, if it has any?

answers: text: vote of confidence
question: What kind of referendum can the lower house of parliament take against the government?

context: The latter in effect allows the government to appeal the opposition of parliament to the electorate. However, in many jurisdictions a head of state may refuse a parliamentary dissolution, requiring the resignation of the prime minister and his or her government. In most modern parliamentary systems, the prime minister is the person who decides when to request a parliamentary dissolution.
qas: answers: text: head of state
question: Who can put a stop the parliamentary attempts at dissovling itself in some areas?

answers: text: resignation of the prime minister and his or her government
question: If the head of state prevents the dissolution of parliament, what needs to happen?

answers: text: prime minister
question: In contemporary parliamentary governments, which official is usually in charge of asking parliament to dissolve?

context: Older constitutions often vest this power in the cabinet. In the United Kingdom, for example, the tradition whereby it is the prime minister who requests a dissolution of parliament dates back to 1918. Prior to then, it was the entire government that made the request. Similarly, though the modern 1937 Irish constitution grants to the Taoiseach the right to make the request, the earlier 1922 Irish Free State Constitution vested the power in the Executive Council (the then name for the Irish cabinet).
qas: answers: text: 1918
question: When was the convention of prime ministers initiating the dissolution of parliament started?

answers: text: 1937
question: In Ireland, when was the power to dissolve parliament assigned to the prime minister?

answers: text: the Executive Council
question: The 1922 Irish Free State Constitution previously gave what body the power to dissolve parliament?

answers: text: cabinet
question: What was the Executive Council an alternate name for?

context: In Australia, the Prime Minister is expected to step down if s/he loses the majority support of his/her party under a spill motion as have many such as Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.
qas: answers: text: spill motion
question: What process signals the need for the prime minister to resign in Australia?

context: In the Russian constitution the prime minister is actually titled Chairman of the government while the Irish prime minister is called the Taoiseach (which is rendered into English as prime minister), and in Israel he is Rosh HaMemshalah meaning "head of the government". In many cases, though commonly used, "prime minister" is not the official title of the office-holder; the Spanish prime minister is the President of the Government (Presidente del Gobierno).
qas: answers: text: Chairman of the government
question: What is the Russian term for prime minister?

answers: text: Rosh HaMemshalah
question: What is the Israeli term for prime minister?

answers: text: President of the Government (Presidente del Gobierno)
question: What is the term used in spain for prime minister?

answers: text: Taoiseach
question: What is the Irish term for prime minister?

context: Other common forms include president of the council of ministers (for example in Italy, Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri), President of the Executive Council, or Minister-President. In the Scandinavian countries the prime minister is called statsminister in the native languages (i.e. minister of state). In federations, the head of government of subnational entities such as provinces is most commonly known as the premier, chief minister, governor or minister-president.
qas: answers: text: president of the council of ministers
question: What is the Italian term for the prime minister?

answers: text: statsminister
question: What is the native term for prime minister in Scandinavia?

context: The convention in the English language is to call nearly all national heads of government "prime minister" (sometimes modified to the equivalent term of premier), regardless of the correct title of the head of government as applied in his or her respective country. The few exceptions to the rule are Germany and Austria, whose heads of government titles are almost always translated as Chancellor; Monaco, whose head of government is referred to as the Minister of State; and Vatican City, for which the head of government is titled the Secretary of State. In the case of Ireland, the head of government is occasionally referred to as the Taoiseach by English speakers. A stand-out case is the President of Iran, who is not actually a head of state, but the head of the government of Iran. He is referred to as "president" in both the Persian and English languages.
qas: answers: text: premier
question: What is a term that is used to mean prime minister?

answers: text: Germany and Austria
question: Which countries use the term chancellor to denote the head of government?

answers: text: Minister of State
question: What is the head of Monaco's government called?

answers: text: Secretary of State
question: What is the term for the highest position in government in Vatican City?

answers: text: President
question: What is the head of Iran's government called?

context: In non-Commonwealth countries the prime minister may be entitled to the style of Excellency like a president. In some Commonwealth countries prime ministers and former prime ministers are styled Right Honourable due to their position, for example in the Prime Minister of Canada. In the United Kingdom the prime minister and former prime ministers may appear to also be styled Right Honourable, however this is not due to their position as head of government but as a privilege of being current members of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.
qas: answers: text: non-Commonwealth countries
question: In what kinds of nations can the head of government attain the title of Excellency?

answers: text: Right Honourable
question: What honorific title can be given to prime ministers in commonwealth nations?

answers: text: Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council
question: What are British prime ministers part of that grants them the title Right Honourable?

answers: text: Canada
question: What is an example of a country where prime ministers can be called Right Honourable solely because of their position?

context: In the UK, where devolved government is in place, the leaders of the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh Governments are styled First Minister. In India, The Prime Minister is referred to as "Pradhan Mantri", meaning "prime minister". In Pakistan, the prime minister is referred to as "Wazir-e-Azam", meaning "Grand Vizier".
qas: answers: text: devolved
question: What kind of government is in operation in the United Kingdom?

answers: text: First Minister
question: What are the heads of government in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland called?

answers: text: Pradhan Mantri
question: What is the Indian term for Prime Minister?

answers: text: Wazir-e-Azam
question: What is the term for prime minister in Pakistan?

answers: text: Grand Vizier
question: What does Wazir-e-Azam mean in English?

context: The Prime Minister's executive office is usually called the Office of the Prime Minister in the case of the Canada and other Commonwealth countries, it is called Cabinet Office in United Kingdom. Some Prime Minister's office do include the role of Cabinet. In other countries, it is called the Prime Minister's Department or the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as for Australia.
qas: answers: text: Office of the Prime Minister
question: What is the head of government's office called in Canada?

answers: text: Cabinet Office
question: What is the head of government's office called in the UK?