Presidential system

World's states colored by systems of government:

**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

**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.

**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.

**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.

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

A presidential, strong-president, or single-executive system (sometimes also congressional system) is a form of government in which a head of government (usually titled "president") heads an executive branch that derives its authority and legitimacy from a source that is separate from the legislative branch. The system was popularized by its inclusion in the Constitution of the United States.

This head of government is often also the head of state. In a presidential system, the head of government is directly or indirectly elected by a group of citizens and is not responsible to the legislature, and the legislature cannot dismiss the president during their term in office except in extraordinary cases. A presidential system contrasts with a parliamentary system, where the head of government (usually called a prime minister) derives their power from the confidence of an elected legislature, which can dismiss the prime minister with an ordinary majority. However, dictators or leaders of one-party states, whether popularly elected or not, often carry the title of president.