head of state
Let an agent handle heads of state as offices with holders, powers, selection and terms, and separate them from heads of government.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle heads of state as offices with holders, powers, selection and terms, and separate them from heads of government.
The person or collective body who holds the highest representative office of a state, such as a monarch or president, with powers ranging from ceremonial to executive depending on the constitution.
What it is for: Representing the state, and in some systems leading the executive.
It can be hold the office, by succession, election or appointment; exercise constitutional powers; represent the state abroad; be removed, where the constitution allows.
Distinguishing features
Highest representative office of a state
Ceremonial or executive depending on system
Distinct from head of government in many systems
Can be hereditary or elected
What it looks like
An office with symbols such as seals, flags and residences; holders appear in official roles.
How it is recognised
Titles such as King, Queen, President, Emir, Sultan
Official residences and standards
Party leaders in some historical systems held effective power without the formal title
Related models
is part of - in many systems
is confused with - a separate office in many states
is held by - the office holder
is defined by - powers and selection
In practice
Families and kinds
monarchs
presidents
collective heads of state
ceremonial and executive heads
historical rulers such as sultans and shahs
Standards and regulation
National constitutions
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and head of state immunity in customary law
Failure modes and hazards
Confusing head of state and head of government
Out-of-date holder records
Treating de facto leaders as formal heads of state without noting it
Also called
+282
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.head-of-state
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Office The post.
The office is defined by the constitution.
Title and state
Which office.
Office
Office and state.
- Which state and office is meant? definition
- Is it monarchical or republican? definition
Powers
Ceremonial or executive.
Powers
Constitutional powers.
- What powers does the office hold? provenance
- How do they relate to the head of government? boundary
Selection How holders are chosen.
Selection gives legitimacy.
Method
Succession or election.
Selection
How the holder is chosen.
- How is the head of state chosen? definition
- For what term? measurement
Removal
Impeachment, abdication.
Removal
How the office ends.
- How can a head of state be removed or abdicate? definition
- Who acts in a vacancy? definition
Holder Who holds it now.
Holders change; records must track them.
Current holder
Name and since.
Holder
Current holder.
- Who holds the office now, and since when? provenance
- Is the holder recognised internationally? boundary
History
Predecessors.
Succession
List of holders.
- Who held the office before? provenance
- How did transitions happen? provenance
Status Immunity and protocol.
Heads of state have special legal status.
Immunity
Legal immunity.
Immunity
Immunity rules.
- What immunity does the office carry, under which law? boundary
- Does it survive leaving office? boundary
Protocol
Forms of address.
Protocol
Protocol rules.
- How is the head of state formally addressed? definition
- Which protocol applies to visits? definition
What the second pass must settle
- Should each state office be an instance linked to the state?
- How should de facto and de jure leaders be represented?
- How should historical offices be linked?