Ireland Executive branch - Government Ireland Executive branch Executive branch: chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011) head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament) elections/appointments: president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president election results: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president; percent of vote - Michael D.

HIGGINS (Labor Party) 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 28.5%, Martin MCGUINNESS (Sinn Fein) 13.7%, Gay MITCHELL (Fine Gael) 6.4%, David NORRIS (independent) 6.2%, other 5.6% Definition: This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government. Cabinet includes the official name for this body of high-ranking advisers and the method for selection of members. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election.

Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election. Source: CIA World Factbook - This page was last updated on October 8, 2016 See Also The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency Background: Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600 and 150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. Norman invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. The Irish famine of the mid-19th century saw the population of the island drop by one third through starvation and emigration. For more than a century after that the population of the island continued to fall only to begin growing again in the 1960s. Over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU.

The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that touched off several years of guerrilla warfare resulting in independence from the UK in 1921 for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. Unresolved issues in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the "Troubles" that began in the 1960s. The Government of Ireland was part of a process along with the UK and US Governments that helped broker what is known as The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998. This initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments. Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro-zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth, which came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system. Today the economy is recovering, fueled by large and growing foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals.

Geography :: IRELAND Executive branch: chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011) head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011); KENNY resigns 9 March 2016; reelected prime minister on 6 May 2016 cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament) elections/appointments: president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president election results: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president; percent of vote - Michael D.

HIGGINS (Labor Party) 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 28.5%, Martin MCGUINNESS (Sinn Fein) 13.7%, Gay MITCHELL (Fine Gael) 6.4%, David NORRIS (independent) 6.2%, other 5.6% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 43 members indirectly elected by panels of various vocational interests, 11 appointed by the prime minister, and 6 elected by graduates of the University of Dublin and the National University of Ireland; members serve 5-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (158 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held in 27 April 2011 (next to be held probably in 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 26 February 2016 (next to be held probably in 2021) election results: Senate - percent

 of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fine Gael 19, Fianna Fail 14, Labor Party 12, Sinn Fein 3, independent 12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fine Gael 25.5%, Fianna Fail 24.4%, Sinn Fein 13.8%, Labor Party 6.6%, AAA-PBD 4.0%, Social Democrats 3.0%, Green Party 2.7%, Renua Ireland 2.2% independents 17.8%; seats by party - Fine Gael 50, Fianna Fail 44, Sinn Fein 23, Labor Party 7, AAA-PBP 6, Social Democrats 3, Green Party 2, independent 23 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Ireland (consists of the chief justice, 9 judges, 2 ex-officio members - the presidents of the High Court and Court of Appeal - and organized in 3-, 5-, or 7-judge panels, depending on the importance or complexity of an issue of law) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the prime minister and Cabinet and

 appointed by the president; chief justice serves in the position for 7 years; judges can serve until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit or AAA-PBP [collective leadership] Fianna Fail [Micheal MARTIN] Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence) Iona Institute [David QUINN] (a conservative Catholic think tank) Irish Anti-War Movement [Richard BOYD BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world) Keep Ireland Open (environmental group) Oglaigh na hEireann (terrorist group) Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters) New Irish Republican Army (terrorist group combining elements of the former Real IRA and Republican Action Against Drugs) Peace and Neutrality Alliance [Roger COLE] (campaigns to protect Irish neutrality) Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters) 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports unifying Northern Ireland with the rest of the island under Irish government sovereignty)

 International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC chief of mission: Ambassador Anne Colette ANDERSON (since 28 August 2013) chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 

20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin F.

O'MALLEY (since 8 October 2014) embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777 Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; officially the flag colors have no meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green represents the Irish nationalist (Gaelic) tradition of Ireland; orange represents the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange); white symbolizes peace (or a lasting truce) between the green and the orange note: similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red name: "Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song) lyrics/music: Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY note: adopted 1926; instead of "Am

hran na bhFiann," the song "Ireland's Call" is often used at athletic events where citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team Economy :: IRELAND Economy - overview: Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy.

Ireland was among the initial group of 12 EU nations that began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity dropped sharply during the world financial crisis and the subsequent collapse of its domestic property market and construction industry. Faced with sharply reduced revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit from efforts to stabilize its fragile banking sector, the Irish Government introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. These measures were not sufficient to stabilize Ireland’s public finances. In 2010, the budget deficit reached 32.4% of GDP - the world's largest deficit, as a percentage of GDP. In late 2010, the former COWEN government agreed to a $92 billion loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin recapitalize Ireland’s banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. In March 2011, the KENNY government intensified austerity measures to meet the deficit targets under Ireland's EU-IMF bailout program.

In late 2013, Ireland formally exited its EU-IMF bailout program, benefiting from its strict adherence to deficit-reduction targets and success in refinancing a large amount of banking-related debt. In 2014, the economy rapidly picked up and GDP grew by 5.2%. The recovering economy assisted lowering the deficit to 2.5% of GDP. In late 2014, the government introduced a fiscally neutral budget, marking the end of the austerity program. Continued growth of tax receipts has allowed the government to lower some taxes and increase public spending while keeping to its deficit-reduction targets. In 2015, GDP growth reached 7.8%, the highest growth in the EU for the second consecutive year. In the wake of the collapse of the construction sector and the downturn in consumer spending and business investment, the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, has become an even more important component of Ireland's economy. Ireland’s low corporation tax of 12.5% and a talented pool of high-tech laborers have been key factors in encouraging business investment. Loose tax residency requirements made Ireland a common destination for international firms seeking to avoid taxation.

Amid growing international pressure, the government announced it would phase in more stringent tax laws, effectively closing a loophole.

32.9% of GDP (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 -2.4% of GDP (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 101.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 107.6% of GDP (2014 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions country comparison to the world: 14 0.05% (31 December 2015) 0.15% (31 August 2014) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area country comparison to the world: 145 3.4% (31

 December 2015 est.) 3.41% (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $140.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $143.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders country comparison to the world: 28 $255.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $267.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $340.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $380.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $138.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $165.7 billion

 (31 December 2014) $171.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 25 billion kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 25 billion kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 700 million kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 2.9 billion kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 9.1 million kW (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 72.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 2.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 25% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10

0 (July 2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 Telephone system: general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas international: country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and UK; satellite earth stations - 81 (2014) Broadcast media: publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several stations; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2014) Ireland Government 2016, CIA World Factbook Ireland Government 2016 geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr

, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October chief of state: President Michael D.

HIGGINS (since 29 October 2011) head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the lower house of Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) and appointed by the president election results: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president; percent of vote - Michael D.

HIGGINS 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER 28.5%, Martin MCGUINNESS 13.7%, Gay MITCHELL 6.4%, David NORRIS 6.2%, other 5.6% Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 49 members elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held in 27 April 2011 (next to be held 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 25 February 2011 (next to be held probably in 2016) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fine Gael 19, Fianna Fail 14, Labor Party 12, Sinn Fein 3, independents 12; House

 of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fine Gael 36.1%, Labor Party 19.5%, Fianna Fail 17.5%, Sinn Fein 9.9%, United Left Alliance 2.6%, independents and others 14.4%; seats by party - Fine Gael 76, Labor Party 37, Fianna Fail 20, Sinn Fein 14, United Left Alliance 5, independents 14 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the prime minister and Cabinet and appointed by the president; judges serve till age 70 subordinate courts: High Court, Court of Criminal Appeal; circuit and district courts Westminster System Westminster System The Houses of Parliament in London The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after that of the United Kingdom system, as used in the Palace of Westminster , the location of the Parliament of the United Kingdom .

The system is a series of procedures for operating a legislature. It is also used, or was once used, in most Commonwealth and ex-Commonwealth nations, beginning with the Canadian provinces in the mid- 19th century . It is also used in Australia , India , Ireland , Jamaica , Malaysia , New Zealand , Singapore and Malta . There are other parliamentary systems , for example those of Germany and Italy, whose procedures differ considerably from the Westminster system. Key characteristics Important features of the Westminster system include: A head of state who is the nominal or theoretical source of executive power, holds numerous reserve powers, but in practice is a ceremonial figurehead. Such examples include the British Sovereign or the President of India. A de facto executive branch usually made up of members of the legislature with the senior members of the executive in a Cabinet; such members execute executive authority on behalf of the nominal or theoretical executive authority. The presence of opposition parties; An elected legislature, or a system in which one of two houses is elected and the other appointed; The ability of the lower house of parliament to, by default, dismiss a government by "withholding (or blocking) Supply" (rejecting a budget), passing a no-confidence motion, or defeating a confidence motion.

The Westminster system enables a government to be defeated, or forced into a general election, independently of a new government being chosen. The ability for a parliament to be dissolved and elections called at any time. Most of the procedures of the Westminster system have originated with the conventions, practices and precedents of the UK parliament, which are a part of what is known as the British constitution. Unlike the UK, most countries that use the Westminster system have codified the system in a written constitution. However convention, practices and precedents continue to play a significant role in these countries, as many constitutions do not specify important elements of procedure: for example, older constitutions using the Westminster system, such as the Canadian constitution and the Australian constitution, may not even mention the existence of the Cabinet and the title of the head of the government ( Prime Minister), because these offices' existence and role evolved outside the primary constitutional text. Operation In a Westminster system, some members of parliament are elected by popular vote, while others are appointed.

All Westminster-based parliaments have a House of Commons, comprised of local, elected representatives of the people, and a smaller upper house, which can come in a variety of different forms, such as the british House of Lords (with membership previously determined only by heredity, but changed to a mixed election-heredity system), or the Canadian Senate (appointed by the Prime Minister). In Britan, the Commons is the de facto legislative body, while the House of Lords practices restraint in exercizing its constitutional powers and serves as a consultative body. In other Westminster countries, however, the equivalent upper house of parliament can sometimes exercize considerable power. The head of government is usually chosen by being invited to form a government (that is, an administration), by the head of state or the representative of the head of state (that is, the governor-general), not by parliamentary vote (see Kissing Hands.) There are notable exceptions to the above in the Republic of Ireland, where the President of Ireland has a mandate through direct election, and the Taoiseach (prime minister) prior to appointment by the President of Ireland is nominated by the democratically elected lower house, Dáil Éireann.

Because of the mandate and the potentially significant constitutional powers of the Irish president, some authorities believe the Irish constitution is as similar to semi-presidential systems, as it is to Westminster. Similarly, under the constitutions of some Commonwealth countries, a president or Governor-General may possess clearly significant reserve powers. One example is the Australian constitutional crisis of 1975, in which the Governor-General dismissed the Prime Minister, who held a majority in the Australian House of Representatives. Because of constitutional differences, the formal powers of presidents and Governors-General vary greatly from one country to another. However, as Governors-General are not directly elected, they lack the popular mandate held, for example, by an Irish president. Because of this, Governors-General rarely risk the public disapproval which would result from them making unilateral and/or controversial uses of their powers. The head of government, usually called the Prime Minister, must be able either (a) to control a majority of seats within the lower house, (b) to ensure the existence of no absolute majority against them.

If the parliament passes a resolution of no confidence or if the government fails to pass a major bill such as the budget, then the government must either resign so that a different government can be appointed or seek a parliamentary dissolution so that new public elections may be held in order to re-confirm or deny their mandate. In addition to a majority in the Australian House of Representatives, an Australian prime minister must also secure a Senate which is willing to pass budgets. This is a practical matter to allow the government to govern, and the support of the Senate is in no way required to form government; government is formed in the lower house alone. Many political scientists have held that the Australian system of government was consciously devised as a blend or hybrid of the Westminster and the United States systems of government, especially since the Australian Senate is a very powerful upper house. This notion is expressed in the nickname "Washminster system". For example, the Australian Senate maintains similar powers to those held by the US Senate or the British House of Lords, prior to 1911, to block supply to a party with a majority in the House of Representatives.

Although the dissolution of the legislature and the call for new elections is formally done by the head of state, by convention the head of state acts according to the wishes of the head of government. In exceptional circumstances the head of state may either refuse a dissolution request, as in the King-Byng Affair, or dismiss the government, as in the Australian crisis of 1975. Either action is likely to bend or break existing conventions. The Lascelles Principles were an attempt to create a convention to cover similar situations, but have not been tested in practice. Cabinet government In his book "The English Constitution" which was published in 1876, Walter Bagehot emphasised the divide of the constitution into two components: the Dignified (that part which is symbolic) and the Efficient (the way things actually work and get done) and called the Efficient " Cabinet Government". Although there have been many works since emphasising different aspects of the "Efficient", no one has seriously questioned Bagehot's premise that the divide exists in the Westminster system. Members of the Cabinet are collectively seen as responsible for government policy. All Cabinet decisions are made by consensus, a vote is never taken in a Cabinet meeting.

All ministers, whether senior and in the Cabinet, or junior ministers, must support the policy of the government publicly regardless of any private reservations. When a Cabinet reshuffle is imminent, a lot of time is taken up in the conversations of politicians and in the news media, speculating on who will, or will not, be moved in and out of the Cabinet by the Prime Minister, because the appointment of ministers to the Cabinet and threat of dismissal from the Cabinet, is the single most powerful constitutional power which a Prime Minister has in the political control of the Government in the Westminster system. Linked to Cabinet government is the idea, at least in theory, that ministers are responsible for the actions of their departments. It is no longer considered to be an issue of resignation if the actions of members of their department, over whom the minister has no direct control, make mistakes or formulate procedures which are not in accordance with agreed policy decisions. One of the major powers of the Prime Minister under the Westminster system is to be the arbitrator of when a fellow minister is accountable for the actions of his or her department. The Official Opposition and other major political parties not in the Government, will mirror the governmental organisation with their own Shadow Cabinet made up of Shadow Ministers.

Consequences The Westminster system tends to have extremely well-disciplined legislative parties in which it is highly unusual for a legislator to vote against their party, and in which no-confidence votes are very rare. Also, Westminster systems tend to have strong cabinets in which cabinet members are politicians with independent bases of support. Conversely, legislative committees in Westminster systems tend to be weak, though they often have the ability to force a government to reveal certain pieces of information. Ceremonies The Westminster system has a very distinct appearance when functioning, with many British customs incorporated into day-to-day government function. A Westminster-style parliament is usually a long, rectangular room, with two rows of seats and desks on either side. The chairs are positioned so that the two rows are facing each other. The intended purpose of this arrangement is to create a visual representation of the adversarial nature of parliamentary government. Traditionally, the opposition parties will sit in one row of seats, and the government party will sit in the other. Of course, sometimes a majority government is so large that it must use the "opposition" seats as well.

In the lower house at Westminster (the House of Commons) there are lines on the floor in front of the government and opposition benches that members may cross only when exiting the chamber. The distance between the lines is the length of two swords. At one end of the room sits a large chair, for the Speaker of the House. The speaker usually wears a black robe, and in many countries, a wig. Robed parliamentary clerks often sit at narrow tables between the two rows of seats, as well. Other ceremonies sometimes associated with the Westminster system include an annual Speech from the Throne (or equivalent) in which the Head of State gives a special address (written by the government) to parliament about what kind of policies to expect in the coming year, and lengthy State Opening of Parliament ceremonies that often involve the presentation of a large ceremonial mace. Some countries under the Westminster system The Malaysian Parliament is modelled after the Westminster system.

Australia The Republic of South Africa (partially) Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister - Wikinfo Prime Minister Alternate meaning: Prime Minister (band) A prime minister is the chief member of the cabinet in a parliamentary system of government , or alternatively an official in a presidential system or semi-presidential system whose duty is to execute the directives of the President and manage the civil service . Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II In a parliamentary system, such as the Westminster System , the Prime Minister is generally in practice the head of the government while the head of state is largely a ceremonial position. In some monarchies the prime minister exercises powers (known as the Royal Prerogative ) which are constitutionally vested in the monarch and which can be exercised without the approval of parliament. Contents 8.1 References Prime Ministers in both Republics & Monarchies Prime Ministers can be found in both constitutional monarchies (as is the case in the United Kingdom, Norway and Japan ), and in republics , where the head of state is an elected or unelected official with varying degrees of real power. This contrasts with a presidential system , where the President (or equivalent) is both the head of state and the head of the government.

See also " First Minister ", " Premier " which are distinct from "prime minister." In some presidential or semi-presidential systems such as France , Russia , South Korea or Taiwan the prime minister is an official generally appointed by the President but approved by the legislature and responsible for carrying out the directives of the President and managing the civil service. 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 than that of the president. This is a situation which is known as cohabitation . Method of Entry into Office Prime Minister of Canada in the 1920s to the 1940s In parliamentary systems a prime minister can enter into office by a number of means. by appointment by the head of state without the need for confirmation by parliament;' Example: The United Kingdom, where the monarch appoints a prime minister without the need for confirmation from parliament, which gets its first chance to indicate its view on the new government in the vote on the Speech from the Throne , in which the new government outlines its legislative programme. The method of prime ministerial appointment by the British sovereign is known as to Kiss Hands .

Article 190 of the 1982 Portuguese Constitution, for example, states that The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President of the Republic after consultation and with the parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic, due regard being had to the [general] election results. appointment by the head of state after parliament nominates a candidate; Example: The Republic of Ireland where the President of Ireland appoints the Taoiseach on the nomination of Dáil Éireann .) the head of state nominates a candidate for prime minister who is then submitted to parliament for approval before appointment as prime minister; Example: Spain , where the King sends a nomination to parliament for approval. Also Germany where under the Basic Law (constitution) the Bundestag votes on a candidate nominated by the Federal President.

In these cases, parliament can choose another candidate who then would be appointed by the head of state.) the head of state appoints a prime minister who has a set timescale within which s/he must gain a vote of confidence; (Example: Italy .) direct election by parliament (the premiers of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut ); appointment by a state office holder other than the head of state or his/her representative; Example: Under the modern Instrument of Government 1974, which came into force in 1975, the power of commissioning someone to form a government was moved from the King of Sweden to the Speaker of Parliament, who, once it has been approved, formally makes the appointment. Though most prime ministers are 'appointed', they are generally if inaccurately described as 'elected'. Prime Ministers in Constitutions Prime Minister of Australia in the 1970s The position, power and status of prime ministers differ depending on the age of the constitution in individuals. Britain's unwritten constitution makes no mention of a prime minister. Though it had de facto existed for centuries, its first official mention in official state documents did not occur until the first decade of the twentieth century.

Australia's Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (1900) makes no mention of a prime minister of Australia. The office has a de facto existence at the head of the Executive Council. Ireland's constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann (1937) provided for the office of taoiseach in detail, listing powers, functions and duties. Germany 's Basic Law (1949) lists the powers, functions and duties of the federal Chancellor . Exit from Office Contrary to popular and journalistic myth, most prime ministers in parliamentary systems are not appointed for a specific term of 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 continually in power until 1990, though she used the assembly of each House of Commons after a general election to reshuffle her cabinet. Some states, however, do have a term of office of the prime minister linked to the period in office on 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 a taoiseach should remain in office, without the requirement of a renomination, unless s/he has clearly lost the general election.) Prime Minister of India from 1947 - 1964 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: resignation, or a request of a parliamentary dissolution. The latter in effect allows the government to appeal the opposition of parliament to the highest court in the land, the court of public opinion through an election. 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.

Older constitutions often vest this power in the cabinet. (In Britain, 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). Title of Prime Minister Constitution and Government of Ireland Constitution and Government of Ireland CONTENTS THE ELECTORIAL SYSTEM CONSTITUTION Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. The National Parliament (in the Irish language, Oireachtas) consists of the President (an tUachtar�n) and two Houses: a House of Representatives (D�il �ireann) and a Senate (Seanad �ireann). The sole and exclusive power of making laws for the State is vested in Parliament. The functions and powers of the President, D�il and Seanad derive from the Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na h�ireann) and law. The Constitution of Ireland is the basic law of the State.

It was adopted by plebiscite in 1937. It is the successor of the Constitution of D�il �ireann (1919) and the Constitution of the Irish Free State (1922). The Constitution states that all legislative, executive and judicial powers of Government derive from the people. It sets out the form of government and defines the powers of the President, the two Houses of the Oireachtas and the Government. It also defines the structure and powers of the courts, sets out the fundamental rights of citizens and contains a number of directive principles of social policy for the general guidance of the Oireachtas. The Constitution may be amended only by referendum. The Constitution outlines what are considered the fundamental rights of the citizen. The definition of rights in the Constitution covers five broad headings: personal rights, the family, education, private property and religion.

Personal Rights: the Constitution declares that all citizens are equal before the law; it guarantees to defend and vindicate the personal rights of citizens in its laws: it provides that there will be no deprivation of personal liberty except in accordance with law; it provides for the right to 'habeas corpus'; it guarantees the inviolability of citizens' dwellings except in accordance with law; and it guarantees, subject to public order and morality, liberty to express freely one's convictions and opinions, the right to assemble peaceably and without arms, and the right to form associations and unions. The Family: the State recognises the family as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, and guarantees to protect it and the institution of marriage. Education: the State recognises the primacy of the family in the education of children and undertakes to provide for free primary education and to supplement and aid private educational initiative, with due regard to the rights of the parents. Private Property: the right to own private property is guaranteed and its exercise is subject only to the exigencies of the common good. Religion: the Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion, subject only to public order and morality.

Unenumerated Rights: In addition to the foregoing personal rights specifically provided for in the words of the Constitution, the Courts have held in a series of cases that there are other personal rights whose existence "result(s) from the Christian and democratic nature of the State", and which are implicitly guaranteed by the Constitution. The Courts have ruled that these unenumerated personal rights include: The right to bodily integrity, the right not to have one's health endangered by the State, the (qualified) right to work and to earn a livelihood, the right to marital privacy, the right of access to the courts, the right of the citizen to sue the State in court, the right to justice and fair procedures, the right to travel within and without the State, the right to marry, the rights of the unmarried mother in regard to her child. This list is not exhaustive and it is also likely that the Courts will identify more, as yet unenumerated, personal rights in future.

Citizens, and in certain cases non-citizens, have the right to apply to the courts to protect from infringement their rights under the Constitution or to have a judgement pronounced as to whether legislation is compatible with the Constitution, provided the legislation affects, or is likely to affect, the person challenging it. Moreover, the President may before signing a Bill refer it to the Supreme Court for a decision on its compatibility with the Constitution. These procedures have been employed on a number of occasions. THE PRESIDENT The President is the Head of State. S/he acts on the advice and authority of the Government but performs a limited number of functions after consultation with an advisory Council of State. S/hereceives and accredits Ambassadors. Every law made by Parliament is promulgated by him/her. Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament require his/her signature for their enactment into law. S/he may, before signing a Bill, seek a Supreme Court ruling on whether it is repugnant to the Constitution . On the nomination of the D�il the President appoints the Taoiseach (Head of Government). On the advice of the Taoiseach and with prior approval of the D�il, S/he appoints the other members of the Government.

On the advice of the Taoiseach she accepts the resignation or terminates the appointment of members of Government and summons and dissolves the D�il, but S/he has discretionary power to refuse to dissolve the D�il on the advice of a Taoiseach who has ceased to retain the support of the majority in the D�il. This power, which has not so far been exercised, would force the Taoiseach to resign and give the D�il the opportunity to nominate a successor. The supreme command of the Defence Forces is vested in the President. S/he is not answerable to either House of Parliament or to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and functions of her office. S/he may, however, be impeached for stated misbehaviour. Any Irish citizen of 35 years of age may stand for the office of President. The President is elected by direct vote of the people every seven years. A President may not serve for more than two terms. THE LEGISLATUTE D�il �ireann The D�il nominates the Taoiseach and approves the nomination (by the Taoiseach) of the other members of the Government.

The Government is responsible to the D�il for the Departments of State administered by its members. Not more than two Ministers may be members of the Seanad. The Taoiseach, T�naiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Finance must be members of the D�il as must all other Ministers who are not members of the Seanad. The Government presents its proposals to the Oireachtas (either D�il or Seanad) in the form of Bills or Motions which the Houses debate, amend if they so desire, and decide on, if necessary by a vote. These Bills go through five stages in the House in which they are initiated. Following its presentation or introduction (first stage), the general principles of the Bill are debated (second stage) and, if a second reading is agreed to, the Bill is then considered in committee, which is usually a committee of the whole House, though it may be a special or select committee. At this third stage the Bill is considered section by section and substantive amendments may be made. At the fourth or report stage the Bill, as reported from the committee, is considered in 'toto' and further amendment may be made.

At the fifth and final stage a general debate is permissible but is confined strictly to what is contained in the Bill. It may then be passed by the House and sent to the other House. After a Bill has been passed by both Houses it is sent to the President for her signature and promulgation as law. Bills which become law are termed Acts. Under the Constitution, the D�il has exclusive responsibility for considering the estimates of receipts and expenditure of the State, for approving international agreements which involve charges upon public funds and for assenting to a declaration of, or participation in, war. Members of the D�il have the right to address questions in Parliament to Ministers where these relate to public affairs connected with the work of the Ministers' Departments or with matters of administration for which they are officially responsible. Parliamentary questions cannot lead to a debate or a vote. However, a member who is dissatisfied with an answer may, with the consent of the Ceann Comhairle (Chairman) of the D�il, initiate a discussion at the time of the adjournment of the House.

Also with the consent of the Ceann Comhairle, a member may, if supported by at least twelve members, move a motion that the House adjourn to discuss a matter of urgent public importance. The monies required by the Government for both current and capital expenditure are voted by the D�il. A Money Bill may only be initiated in the D�il and certain restrictions apply to the extent to which the Seanad may amend such Bills. The Ceann Comhairle must certify that the Bill in question is a Money Bill. A Bill passed by the D�il which the Seanad rejects or which passed in the Seanad with amendments to which the D�il does not agree, or a Bill which is neither rejected nor passed within ninety days by the Seanad, may subsequently be enacted into law by a resolution of the D�il. Membership of the D�il The D�il has 166 members (known as Teachta� D�la deputies to the Representative Assembly' or TDs) returned by 41 constituencies, each of which elects three, four or five members, according to its population.

The Constitution provides that the number of members of the D�il must be such that there is not more than one member for every 20,000 people or less than one member for every 30,000 people. The constituencies must be reviewed at least once every twelve years, with due regard to changes in the distribution of the population. Parties in the D�il The following political parties were represented in the D�il following the 1997 General Election: Fianna F�il, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, Progressive Democrats, Democratic Left, Sinn F�in and the Green Party. Seanad �ireann Bills passed by the D�il are sent to the Seanad, where they can be amended. These amendments are considered by the D�il. The Seanad's duty in relation to finance is limited to giving consideration, within 21 days, to Money Bills. In general, the Seanad may delay for a maximum of ninety days a Bill passed by the D�il or may suggest changes in the Bill, but cannot block it permanently. Membership of the Seanad The Seanad has sixty members: 1. Eleven are nominated by the Taoiseach. 2.

Six are selected by graduates of the University of Dublin, the National University of Ireland and such other institutions of higher education as may be designated by law. 3. The remaining forty-three are elected from five panels made up of people representing different vocational and professional interests and services. Each panel is divided into two sub-panels: one composed of candidates nominated by at least four members of the Oireachtas and another composed of candidates nominated by registered groups in the spheres of culture and education, agriculture, labour, industry and commerce, and public administration and social services. Sittings of the Houses Attendance at debates in the Houses is not compulsory and no official record is kept of the members attending. The D�il sits for about 100 days in the year and the Seanad for about 60. Both meet in Leinster House, Dublin. Privileges of members Each House makes its own rules and standing orders, with power to attach penalties for their infringement, and has the power to ensure freedom of debate, to protect its official documents and the private papers of its members, and to protect itself and its members against any person or persons interfering with, molesting or attempting to corrupt its members in the exercise of their duties.

All official reports and publications of the Houses and utterances made in either House are privileged. The members of each House are, except in the case of treason, felony or breach of the peace, privileged from arrest in going to and returning from, and while within the precincts of, either House, and are not, in respect of any utterance in either House, amenable to any court or any authority other than the House itself. Each House elects its own Chairman (Ceann Comhairle of the D�il and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad) and Deputy Chairman. They have charge of the conduct of proceedings and the administration of their Houses. The outgoing Ceann Comhairle is automatically deemed to have been re- elected to the D�il after a general election, without having to go through the electoral process. Both Houses of Parliament are assisted by a secretariat of civil servants who work under the direction of the Clerks of the D�il and Seanad. THE GOVERNMENT The executive power of the people is exercised by the Government or on its authority. Under the Constitution the Government must consist of not less than seven and not more than fifteen members, each of whom normally heads one or more Departments of State.

It acts as a collective authority responsible to the D�il. There may be up to seventeen Ministers of State, who are not members of the Government but who assist specific Ministers in their work. The practice is that, following a general election, the prospective Taoiseach first secures the support of a majority in the new D�il and then is formally appointed by the President. The Taoiseach must resign when the Government ceases to retain majority support in the D�il. Parliamentary Elections The lifetime of a D�il is not more than five years from the date of its first meeting. In practice, however, the Taoiseach normally exercises his power to recommend dissolution before the end of that period. A general election must take place within thirty days of a dissolution of the D�il, and the newly elected D�il must meet within thirty days of the polling date. ELECTORAL SYSTEM How the D�il is elected Irish citizens and British citizens who have reached the age of 18 years and who are ordinarily resident in a constituency are entitled to be registered as electors and to vote in general elections in the D�il constituency in which they are normally resident. No person may vote more than once. The ballot is secret.

Members are elected on the system of proportional representation and by means of the single transferable vote in multi-member constituencies. The register of electors is compiled annually by the registration authorities. Postal voting is available to members of the police (Garda S�och�na) and full-time members of the Defence Forces, civil servants (and their spouses) attached to Irish missions abroad. Electors with physical disabilities or illnesses which prevents them from going to a polling station to vote may be registered as special voters and may vote at home by having a ballot paper delivered to them. Every Irish citizen who has reached the age of 21 years, and who is not placed under disability or incapacity by the Constitution or by law, is eligible for membership of the D�il and Seanad. There is a register of political parties. A candidate's nomination paper may include the name of the registered political party which he or she represents or, in the case of a person who does not represent a registered party, the description 'non-party'. These particulars will appear on the ballot paper. Polling takes place in schools and other suitable public buildings. Polling compartments are provided in which voters can mark their paper in secret. Voters must vote in person and not by proxy.

The voters mark their paper by placing the figure ' 1 ' opposite the name of the candidate of their first choice. They may then place the figure '2' opposite the name of their second choice and so on. Under the single transferable vote system the elector is in effect telling the returning officer: 'I wish to vote for A, but if A does not need my vote or has no chance of being elected, transfer my vote to B. If B in turn does not need my vote or has no chance of election, transfer my vote to C, and so on'. Counting votes The count commences at 9 am on the day after polling day. At the opening of the count the ballot papers are mixed together and sorted according to the first preferences recorded for the candidates. The total number of valid papers is then found, and from that figure the quota is calculated according to the formula: Total valid votes ___________________________Plus 1 Number of seats plus 1 Thus, if there were 40,000 votes and 4 seats to be filled, the quota would be 8,001 and only four candidates could reach the quota. The quota, then, is the smallest number necessary to guarantee the election of a candidate.

If, on the first count, no candidate has reached the quota, the candidate who received the lowest number of votes is eliminated and his votes are transferred to the candidate for whom a second preference is recorded. If a candidate receives more than the quota required for election, the surplus votes are transferred to the remaining candidates in accordance with the subsequent preferences expressed by the electors. When the number of remaining candidates neither elected nor eliminated equals the number of vacancies to be filled, those candidates are declared elected although they may not have reached the quota. A bye-election is held to fill a vacancy created by the death, resignation or disqualification of a member of the D�il. The voting procedure in a bye-election is the same as that for a general election. How the Seanad is elected An election for the Seanad must take place within ninety days of a dissolution of the D�il. The date of the first meeting of the newly-elected Seanad is fixed by the President on the advice of the Taoiseach. There are separate systems for the election of university and panel members. Panels The numbers of members of the Seanad elected from each panel is divided as follows: 1.

Five members from the cultural and educational panel (representing the national language and culture, literature, art, education, law and medicine-including surgery, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmaceutical chemistry), of whom two at least are elected from each sub- panel . 2. Eleven members from the agricultural panel (representing agriculture and allied interests and fisheries), of whom four at least are elected from each sub- panel . 3. Eleven members from the labour panel (representing labour, whether organised or unorganised), of whom four at least are elected from each sub-panel. 4. Nine members from the industrial and commercial panel (representing industry and commerce and including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering and architecture), of whom three at least are elected from each sub- panel. 5. Seven members from the administrative panel (representing public administration and social services, including voluntary social activities), of whom three at least are elected from each sub-panel. Formation of panels The Clerk of the Seanad, acting as Seanad Returning Officer, is required to maintain a register of bodies entitled to nominate a number of people to the panels of candidates. At a Seanad election each nominating body registered for a panel may propose for nomination a fixed number of people.

The final nominations comprise what is known as the nominating bodies sub-panel. Any four members of either House may nominate one candidate for any panel, but each member may join in only one such nomination. The nominations made by members of both Houses to each panel are known as the Oireachtas sub-panel. Candidates must have knowledge and practical experience related to the panel for which they are nominated. The Electorate The electorate for an election of panel members to the Seanad numbers almost 1,000 and consists of: 1. the members of the incoming D�il, 2. the members of the outgoing Seanad, 3. the members of the Councils of Counties and the Corporations of County Boroughs. Each elector has only one vote for each panel. Each panel is counted separately and the elections conducted in accordance with the principle of proportional representation, by means of the single transferable vote. First Name: Prime Minister Prime Minister Alternate meaning: Prime Minister (band) A prime minister is the chief member of the cabinet in a parliamentary system of government , or alternatively an official in a presidential system or semi-presidential system whose duty is to execute the directives of the President and manage the civil service .

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II In a parliamentary system, such as the Westminster System , the Prime Minister is generally in practice the head of the government while the head of state is largely a ceremonial position. In some monarchies the prime minister exercises powers (known as the Royal Prerogative ) which are constitutionally vested in the monarch and which can be exercised without the approval of parliament. Table of contents 8 External links Prime Ministers in both Republics & Monarchies Prime Ministers can be found in both constitutional monarchies (as is the case in the United Kingdom, Norway and Japan ), and in republics, where the head of state is an elected or unelected official with varying degrees of real power. This contrasts with a presidential system , where the President (or equivalent) is both the head of state and the head of the government. See also " First Minister ", " Premier " which are distinct from "prime minister." In some presidential or semi-presidential systems such as France , Russia , South Korea or Taiwan the prime minister is an official generally appointed by the President but approved by the legislature and responsible for carrying out the directives of the President and managing the civil service.

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 than that of the president. This is a situation which is known as cohabitation . Method of Entry into Office Prime Minister of Canada in the 1920s to the 1940s In parliamentary systems a prime minister can enter into office by a number of means. by appointment by the head of state without the need for confirmation by parliament; Example: The United Kingdom, where the monarch appoints a prime minister without the need for confirmation from parliament, which gets its first chance to indicate its view on the new government in the vote on the Speech from the Throne , in which the new government outlines its legislative programme. The method of prime ministerial appointment by the British sovereign is known as to Kiss Hands . Article 190 of the 1982 'Portuguese Constitution, for example, states that The Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President of the Republic after consultation and with the parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic, due regard being had to the [general] election results.

appointment by the head of state after parliament nominates a candidate; Example: The Republic of Ireland where the President of Ireland appoints the Taoiseach on the nomination of D�il �ireann .) the head of state nominates a candidate for prime minister who is then submitted to parliament for approval before appointment as prime minister; Example: Spain , where the King sends a nomination to parliament for approval. Also Germany where under the Basic Law (constitution) the Bundestag votes on a candidate nominated by the Federal President. In these cases, parliament can choose another candidate who then would be appointed by the head of state.) the head of state appoints a prime minister who has a set timescale within which s/he must gain a vote of confidence; (Example: Italy .) direct election by parliament (the premiers of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut ); appointment by a state office holder other than the head of state or his/her representative; Example: Under the modern Instrument of Government 1974, which came into force in 1975, the power of commissioning someone to form a government was moved from the King of Sweden to the Speaker of Parliament, who, once it has been approved, formally makes the appointment.

Though most prime ministers are 'appointed', they are generally if inaccurately described as 'elected'. Prime Ministers in Constitutions Prime Minister of Australia in the 1970s The position, power and status of prime ministers differ depending on the age of the constitution in individuals. Britain's unwritten constitution makes no mention of a prime minister. Though it had de facto existed for centuries, its first official mention in official state documents did not occur until the first decade of the twentieth century. Australia's Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (1900) makes no mention of a prime minister of Australia. The office has a de facto existence at the head of the Executive Council. Ireland's constitution, Bunreacht na h�ireann (1937) provided for the office of taoiseach in detail, listing powers, functions and duties. Germany 's Basic Law (1949) lists the powers, functions and duties of the federal Chancellor . Exit from Office Contrary to popular and journalistic myth, most prime ministers in parliamentary systems are not appointed for a specific term of 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 continually in power until 1990, though she used the assembly of each House of Commons after a general election to reshuffle her cabinet. Some states, however, do have a term of office of the prime minister linked to the period in office on 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 a taoiseach should remain in office, without the requirement of a renomination, unless s/he has clearly lost the general election.) Prime Minister of India from 1947 - 1964 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: resignation, or a request of a parliamentary dissolution. The latter in effect allows the government to appeal the opposition of parliament to the highest court in the land, the court of public opinion through an election. 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. Older constitutions often vest this power in the cabinet. (In Britain, 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).

Title of Prime Minister Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1972 through 1980 and again from 1989 until 1992 . A number of different terms are used to describe prime ministers. The German prime minister is known as the Chancellor while the Irish Prime Minister is called the Taoiseach . In many cases, though commonly used, 'prime minister' is not the official title of the office-holder. One common title is President (or Chairman) of the Council of Ministers. Others include President of the Council of State, President of the Executive Council, and Minister-President. Articles on prime ministers President | The President | Constitutional Role Constitutional Role Constitutional Role Office of the President The Office of President was established by The Constitution (Bunreacht na h Éireann). The President is elected directly by the people. To be a candidate a citizen must be over 35 years of age and must be nominated either by: Not less than 20 members of Dáil or Seanad Éireann, or Not less than 4 administrative counties (including County Boroughs) Former or retiring Presidents may become candidates on their own nomination.

The term of office is 7 years and a President may not serve more than 2 terms. The President must reside in or near Dublin. St. Patrick’s Hall, Dublin Castle, is the venue for Inauguration ceremonies, at which each President takes an oath as provided in the Constitution. The President represents all the people when undertaking official engagements at home and abroad. The President is Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces. There have been nine different holders of the office – Michael D. Higgins is the current President. Powers and Functions The formal powers and functions of the President are prescribed in the Constitution. The President, who does not have an executive or policy role, exercises them on the advice of the Government. There are some specific instances where the President has an absolute discretion, such as in referring a Bill to the Supreme Court for a judgment on its constitutionality or in refusing to dissolve Dáil Éireann (lower house of parliament) on the advice of a Taoiseach (Prime Minister) who has ceased to retain a majority. Additional functions can be conferred on the President by law. A special (Presidential) Commission acts whenever the President is absent.

Appointments The President appoints the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) on the nomination of Dáil Éireann; and the other members of the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach after Dáil approval. Other office holders appointed by the President, on the advice of the Government, include Judges, the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General, and Commissioned officers of the Defence Forces. The Oireachtas The Oireachtas is the sole legislative authority of the State and comprises the President, Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. The President summons and dissolves Dáil Éireann on the advice of the Taoiseach. Bills enacted by Houses of the Oireachtas are signed into law by the President. A Bill must be signed on the 5th, 6th or 7th day after it is presented to the President, but there are some situations when the President may sign a Bill earlier.

The Bills for the undermentioned Acts have been signed by the President in the period since 1 January 2000 and have accordingly become law:- Titles of Acts signed by President Higgins The President has an absolute discretion to refer a Bill to the Supreme Court to get a judgement on its constitutionality (but not a Money Bill or a Bill to amend the Constitution). Before making a referral the President must first consult the Council of State. The constitutionality of any Bill signed following a referral may not be subsequently challenged in the courts. The President, after consultation with the Council of State, may address the Houses of the Oireachtas (parliament) on any matter of national or public importance. The text of any such address must be approved by the Government. Related Content

Question: What is the title of the head of government of Ireland, similar to that of a Prime Minister, who is nominated by the lower house and appointed by the President?
Answer: The Taoiseach