AP Comparative Government - HOG, HOS, and Government Types

Quarter 2

Explain the difference between a Head of State (HOS) and a Head of Government (HOG).

Explain the difference between a Head of State (HOS) and a Head of Government (HOG).

A head of state is often (but not always, Iran) a symbolic representative (think Queen Elizabeth) while a head of government is the official in charge of actually running/leading the government.

China Government Type

Party-led Parliamentary

China Head of State

President XI Jinping

China Head of Government

Premier LI Qiang

Great Britain Government Type

Parliamentary

Great Britain Head of State

King Charles III

Great Britain Head of Government

Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Iran Government Type

Theocratic republic

Iran Head of State

Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI

Iran Head of Government

President Masoud PEZESHKIAN

Mexico Government Type

Presidential

Mexico Head of State

President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo

Mexico Head of Government

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo

Nigeria Government Type

Presidential

Nigeria Head of State

President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU

Nigeria Head of Government

President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU

Russia Government Type

Semi-presidential federation

Russia Head of State

President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN

Russia Head of Government

Premier Mikhail Vladimirovich MISHUSTIN

What two course countries have presidential systems?

Mexico and Nigeria

What is the difference between how parliamentary and presidential systems regulate cabinet ministers’ positions"?

Parliamentary systems allow cabinet ministers to retain their seat in the legislature, while presidential systems require cabinet members to give up their seats in the legislature if they join the government.