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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1765] ==Definitions== *1: the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurehe...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Imp_eagle_1913.jpg|right|frame]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1765]
==Definitions==
*1: the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurehead_(object) figure on a ship's bow]
*2: a head or chief in name only
==Description==
In [[politics]], a '''figurehead''' is a person who holds [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_jure de jure] an important title or office yet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto de facto] executes little actual [[power]], most commonly limited by [[convention]] rather than [[law]]. The [[metaphor]] derives from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurehead_(object) carved figurehead at the prow of a sailing ship]. Commonly cited figureheads include [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II_of_the_United_Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II]'s role as Queen of the United Kingdom, sixteen Commonwealth Realms and head of the British Commonwealth overall; she has an important office title, but no [[power]] over the [[nations]] in which she is not head of state. The Queen also holds all powers of state in her kingdoms, but rarely [[exercises]] them. Other figureheads are the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Akihito_of_Japan Emperor Akihito of Japan], or presidents in some parliamentary republics, such as the President of Israel, President of Bangladesh, President of Greece, President of Germany and the President of the People's Republic of China (without CPC General Secretary post).
While the [[authority]] of a figurehead is in [[practice]] generally [[symbolic]] or [[ceremonial]], public [[opinion]], respect for the office or the office holder and access to high levels of [[government]] can give them significant [[influence]] on [[events]]. In those systems of government where the head of state is in practice a ''figurehead'', they are also generally the titular commanders in chief of the nation's [[Military|defence forces]].
Sometimes a ''figurehead'' can be [[exploited]] in times of [[emergency]]. For example, Indian Prime Minister [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi Indira Gandhi] used the figurehead President of India to issue unilateral [[decrees]] that allowed her to bypass parliament when it no longer supported her. During the [[crisis]] of the March on Rome in 1922, King [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Emmanuel_III_of_Italy Victor Emmanuel III of Italy], though a figurehead, played a key role in handing [[power]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolini Benito Mussolini]. Conversely, King Juan Carlos of Spain, also a figurehead, had in 1981 a key role in defending the newborn Spanish democracy and foiling the attempted coup d'état, known as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23-F 23-F]".
==As a derogative term==
The word can also have more [[sinister]] overtones, and refer to a powerless [[leader]] who should be exercising full [[authority]], yet is actually being [[controlled]] by a more powerful figure [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_behind_the_throne behind the throne].
The tendency of this [[word]] to drift, like many words that are in a strong [[process]] of changed [[meanings]], into the pejorative is beginning to make it unsuitable to apply to a head of state with limited [[constitutional]] [[authority]], such that its use may become increasingly inappropriate in referring to monarchs and presidents in parliamentary systems.
[[Category: Political Science]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1765]
==Definitions==
*1: the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurehead_(object) figure on a ship's bow]
*2: a head or chief in name only
==Description==
In [[politics]], a '''figurehead''' is a person who holds [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_jure de jure] an important title or office yet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto de facto] executes little actual [[power]], most commonly limited by [[convention]] rather than [[law]]. The [[metaphor]] derives from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurehead_(object) carved figurehead at the prow of a sailing ship]. Commonly cited figureheads include [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II_of_the_United_Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II]'s role as Queen of the United Kingdom, sixteen Commonwealth Realms and head of the British Commonwealth overall; she has an important office title, but no [[power]] over the [[nations]] in which she is not head of state. The Queen also holds all powers of state in her kingdoms, but rarely [[exercises]] them. Other figureheads are the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Akihito_of_Japan Emperor Akihito of Japan], or presidents in some parliamentary republics, such as the President of Israel, President of Bangladesh, President of Greece, President of Germany and the President of the People's Republic of China (without CPC General Secretary post).
While the [[authority]] of a figurehead is in [[practice]] generally [[symbolic]] or [[ceremonial]], public [[opinion]], respect for the office or the office holder and access to high levels of [[government]] can give them significant [[influence]] on [[events]]. In those systems of government where the head of state is in practice a ''figurehead'', they are also generally the titular commanders in chief of the nation's [[Military|defence forces]].
Sometimes a ''figurehead'' can be [[exploited]] in times of [[emergency]]. For example, Indian Prime Minister [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi Indira Gandhi] used the figurehead President of India to issue unilateral [[decrees]] that allowed her to bypass parliament when it no longer supported her. During the [[crisis]] of the March on Rome in 1922, King [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Emmanuel_III_of_Italy Victor Emmanuel III of Italy], though a figurehead, played a key role in handing [[power]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolini Benito Mussolini]. Conversely, King Juan Carlos of Spain, also a figurehead, had in 1981 a key role in defending the newborn Spanish democracy and foiling the attempted coup d'état, known as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23-F 23-F]".
==As a derogative term==
The word can also have more [[sinister]] overtones, and refer to a powerless [[leader]] who should be exercising full [[authority]], yet is actually being [[controlled]] by a more powerful figure [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_behind_the_throne behind the throne].
The tendency of this [[word]] to drift, like many words that are in a strong [[process]] of changed [[meanings]], into the pejorative is beginning to make it unsuitable to apply to a head of state with limited [[constitutional]] [[authority]], such that its use may become increasingly inappropriate in referring to monarchs and presidents in parliamentary systems.
[[Category: Political Science]]