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Chief executive (head of government)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chief executive is a term used for a head of government that allows its holder to perform various functions. The term can also apply to heads of state as well, though it is less common. The term may refer to the title of the position, but many constituencies place this power in a position with a different title (e.g., president or prime minister).

Description

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Chief executive is a term used for a head of government (e.g., presidential, prime ministerial, or gubernatorial powers) given by a constitution or basic law, which allows its holder to perform various functions that may include implementing policy, supervising the executive branch of government, preparing an executive budget for submission to the legislature, appointing and removing executive officials, vetoing laws, dissolving the legislature, and submitting their own bills to the legislature.

Positions titled chief executive

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In most cases there the title title of chief executive is not directly used as the title of the office. The powers are often given to a position with another name, such as president, governor-general, governor, lieutenant-governor, administrator, high commissioner, commissioner, premier, or minister-president. There are a few offices formally styled chief executive:

  • In the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, which were previously under British and Portuguese rule until the transfer of sovereignty in the late 20th century, the chief executive are the political and executive leaders of the regions and of their respective governments:
Title Created Superseded / defunct
Chief Executive of Hong Kong 1997 Governor of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Macau 1999 Governor of Macau

Sources and references

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