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Politics & Government vocabulary · Government and the Executive

President

Meaning in politics & government, with examples

/ˈprezɪdənt/nounCore term

In politics & government, president means: The head of state in a republic. In presidential systems the president also leads the government, while in parliamentary systems the role is often mainly ceremonial.

In Turkish: cumhurbaşkanı, başkan, devlet başkanı

How it is used

Presidents are elected, sworn in, serve a term and may be re-elected. The word takes a capital letter before a name or as a title: the President. It also means the head of an organization or club and, in American English, of a university or company.

Example sentences

  1. The president signed the law after it passed both houses.

  2. Voters will elect a new president in the spring.

Common collocations

  • elect a president
  • presidential election
  • vice president
  • the office of president
  • presidential palace
  • head of stateThe person who officially represents a country at home and abroad, such as a president or monarch; in some systems the role is mainly ceremonial.
  • presidential systemA system of government in which an elected president leads the executive, is separate from the legislature and cannot normally be removed by a vote of no confidence.
  • prime ministerThe leader of the government in many countries, usually the head of the largest party or coalition in parliament, who chairs the cabinet.
  • vetoThe official right of a person or body to reject a law or decision; also the act of using this right to stop it.
  • term of officeThe fixed period of time during which an elected or appointed person, such as a president, mayor or MP, holds an official position.

More terms: Government and the Executive

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