Shugaban Gwamnati wannan lakabi ce da ake wa kodai mafi girman jami'i mai zartaswa na sovereign state ko na biyun sa, a Kasar Tarayya, ko a self-governing colony, wanda ke gaban kabinet, kungiyar ministoci ko sakatarai wadanda ke jagororin hukumomin zartaswa. Kalmar "shugaban gwamnati" tana da ban-banci da kalmar "shugaban kasa" (kamar yadda yake a article 7 na Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, da article 1 na Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents da kuma a jerin protocol na majalisar dinkin duniya), kuma shugaban ci ne daban-daban na mutane, ko mukamai wanda ya danganta ne da tsarin wace kasa ce. HEADS OF STATE, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT, MINISTERS FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS webarchive|url=https://www.webcitation.org/6CDCJ728N?url=http://www.un.int/protocol/documents/Hspmfm.pdf |date=2012-11-16, Protocol and Liaison Service, United Nations (2012-10-19). Retrieved on 2013-07-29. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969, International Law Commission, United Nations. Retrieved on 2013-07-29. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents 1973, International Law Commission, United Nations.