Directorial system

World's states colored by systems of government:

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  Parliamentary systems: Head of government is elected or nominated by and accountable to the legislature.
    Constitutional monarchy with a ceremonial monarch
    Semi-constitutional monarchy: Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power but is still restricted by the constitution.
    Parliamentary republic with a ceremonial president
    Parliamentary republic with an executive president

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  Presidential system: Head of government (president) is popularly elected and independent of the legislature.
    Presidential republic
    Theocratic presidential republic: Supreme leader is highest authority; popularly elected president still exists.

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  Hybrid systems:
    Semi-presidential republic: Executive president is independent of the legislature; head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature.
    Assembly-independent republic: Head of government (president or directory) is elected by the legislature, but is not accountable to it.

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  Other systems:
    Islamic theocracy: Supreme leader holds unlimited political and religious power; state and faith are a single institution.
    Absolute monarchy: Monarch has unlimited power.
    One-party state: Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party.
    Provisional government: Current regime is temporary or transitional; no permanent constitution.
    Military junta: Committee of military leaders controls the government; constitutional provisions are suspended.
    Places without governments.

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  Note: this chart represents the de jure systems of government, not the de facto degree of democracy.

The directorial or executive council system is a political system in which executive power is held directly by a collegial body, typically called a council, directory, or cabinet, with no single head of government. The system was pioneered by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania in the American Revolution and the French Directory, which ended the Reign of Terror. It has since been used by the Swiss Confederation as part of the 1848 Swiss Constitution, adopted after the Sonderbund War.