Presidential system

A system of government in which an independently elected president serves as both head of state and head of government, separate from the legislature.

Separation of powers: A constitutional arrangement that divides government authority among distinct branches. The president and legislature hold separate mandates and exercise distinct powers.
Parliamentary system: A system in which the government is drawn from and remains politically accountable to the legislature. Unlike a president, a parliamentary executive depends on legislative confidence to stay in office.
United States Constitution: The 1787 constitution establishing the federal structure and institutions of the United States. It establishes the classic presidential arrangement of separately elected branches.
Constitutional Convention (United States): The 1787 meeting in Philadelphia that drafted the United States Constitution. Delegates designed the first modern presidential system during this convention.
Veto: A formal power to reject or block a proposed law or decision. Presidential vetoes give the executive a direct check on legislation.
Semi-presidential system: A system combining a directly elected president with a prime minister and cabinet accountable to parliament. It divides executive leadership in a way a standard presidential system does not.
Brazil: A federal republic in South America with a president serving as head of state and government. Its presidential constitution operates alongside a multiparty Congress.
James Madison: An American statesman and political thinker who helped draft and promote the United States Constitution. His arguments for divided power shaped the constitutional design of the presidency.
Executive order: A directive issued by a head of government to manage the executive branch or implement existing law. It lets presidents direct executive action without first passing a new statute.
Parliamentary confidence: Legislative support that a parliamentary government must retain to remain in office. Presidents generally do not require continuing legislative confidence to serve their terms.

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