Explained

Head of state and head of government

Many countries split the job of representing the state from the job of running the government. Others give both roles to one person.

• The UN protocol list records a Head of State and a Head of Government for each member state, and marks countries such as the United States, Mexico and Brazil as having no Prime Minister.¹
• The same list names King Charles III as Head of State of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, where an elected Prime Minister heads the government.¹
• Kenya's entry names William Ruto as both Head of State and Head of Government.¹
• Under Article 66 of South Korea's Constitution the President is Head of State, and under Article 86 the President appoints the Prime Minister with the consent of the National Assembly.²
• In Italy, Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers before the head of state, President Sergio Mattarella, on 22 October 2022.³

Sources

1. United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service, Heads of State, Heads of Government and Ministers for Foreign Affairs (list dated 20 October 2026) (20 October 2026)
2. Constitute Project, Constitution of the Republic of Korea, 1987 (Constitute Project)
3. Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy, Curriculum vitae, Presidente Giorgia Meloni