Editing Head of state (section)

===Executive role===
In the majority of states, whether republics or monarchies, [[executive branch|executive authority]] is vested, at least notionally, in the head of state. In presidential systems the head of state is the actual, [[de facto]] chief executive officer. Under parliamentary systems the executive authority is exercised by the head of state, but in practice is done so on the advice of the cabinet of ministers. This produces such terms as "Her Majesty's Government" and "His Excellency's Government." Examples of parliamentary systems in which the head of state is notional chief executive include [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Canada]], [[Denmark]], [[India]], [[Italy]], [[Norway]], [[Spain]] and the [[United Kingdom]].
* ''Example 1 (parliamentary monarchy):'' According to Section 12 of the [[Constitution of Denmark]] 1953:
** ''Subject to the limitations laid down in this Constitution Act the [[Monarchy of Denmark|King]] shall have the supreme authority in all the affairs of the Realm, and he shall exercise such supreme authority through the [[Cabinet of Denmark|Ministers]].''<ref name=denmark>[http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/Publications/~/media/Pdf_materiale/Pdf_publikationer/English/My%20Constitutional%20Act_with_explanations_version%209.ashx My Constitutional Act with explanations, 9th edition] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618173318/http://www.thedanishparliament.dk/Publications/~/media/Pdf_materiale/Pdf_publikationer/English/My%20Constitutional%20Act_with_explanations_version%209.ashx |date=18 June 2013 }}, The Communications Section, [[Folketing|Danish Parliament]] (August 2012). Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 2 (parliamentary absentee monarchy):'' Under Chapter II, Section 61 of the [[Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act]] 1900:
** ''The executive power of the Commonwealth is vested in the [[Monarchy of Australia|Queen]] and is exercisable by the [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]] as the Queen's representative, and extends to the execution and maintenance of this Constitution, and of the laws of the Commonwealth.''<ref name=australia>[http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2005Q00193/0332ed71-e2d9-4451-b6d1-33ec4b570e9f The Constitution as in force on 1 June 2003 together with proclamation declaring the establishment of the Commonwealth, letters patent relating to the Office of Governor-General, Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942, Australia Act 1986.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510150908/http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2005Q00193/0332ed71-e2d9-4451-b6d1-33ec4b570e9f |date=10 May 2012 }}, [[ComLaw]], [[Government of Australia]] (2003) {{ISBN|0 642 78285 7}}. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 3 (parliamentary republic):'' According to Article 26 (2) of the 1975 [[Constitution of Greece]]:
** ''The executive power shall be exercised by the [[President of Greece|President of the Republic]] and the [[Government of Greece|Government]].''<ref name=greece>[http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148-f24dce6a27c8/001-156%20aggliko.pdf The Constitution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114142907/http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148-f24dce6a27c8/001-156%20aggliko.pdf |date=14 November 2017 }}, Publications Department, [[Hellenic Parliament]] (2008) {{ISBN|960 560 073 0}}. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 4 (parliamentary republic):'' According to Article 53 (1) of the [[Constitution of India]]:
** ''The executive power of the union shall be vested in the [[President of India|President]] and shall be exercised by him either directly or indirectly through the officers subordinate to him in accordance to the Constitution.''<ref name=india>[http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss%289%29.pdf Constitution of India, Part V] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824000303/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(9).pdf |date=24 August 2015 }}, [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]]. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 5 (semi-presidential republic):'' Under Chapter 4, Article 80, Section 3 of the [[Constitution of Russia]]:
** ''The [[President of the Russian Federation]] shall, in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal laws, determine the basic objectives of the internal and foreign policy of the State.''<ref name=government.ru/>
* ''Example 6 (presidential republic):'' Title IV, Chapter II, Section I, Article 76 of the [[Constitution of Brazil]]:
** ''The Executive Power is exercised by the [[President of Brazil|President of the Republic]], assisted by the [[Cabinet of Brazil|Ministers of State]].''<ref name=brazil>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120426071904/http://bd.camara.gov.br/bd/bitstream/handle/bdcamara/1344/constituicao_ingles_3ed.pdf?sequence=7 Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil: 3rd Edition], [[Chamber of Deputies (Brazil)|Chamber of Deputies]] (2010) {{ISBN|978-85-736-5737-1}}. Retrieved on 13 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 7 (presidential republic):'' Article 2, Section 1 of the [[United States Constitution]] states:
** ''The executive Power shall be vested in a [[President of the United States|President of the United States of America]].''<ref name="us constitution">[https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html Constitution of the United States] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819235454/http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html |date=19 August 2011 }}, [[National Archives and Records Administration]]. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>

The few exceptions where the head of state is not even the nominal chief executive - and where supreme executive authority is according to the constitution explicitly vested in a cabinet - include the [[Czech Republic]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], [[Israel]], [[Japan]] and [[Sweden]].<ref name=japan/><ref name="sweden ig"/>

====Appointment of senior officials====
The head of state usually appoints most or all the key officials in the government, including the [[head of government]] and other cabinet ministers, key judicial figures; and all major office holders in the [[civil service]], [[foreign service]] and [[commissioned officer|commissioned officers in the military]]. In many parliamentary systems, the head of government is appointed with the consent (in practice often decisive) of the legislature, and other figures are appointed on the head of government's advice.

In practice, these decisions are often a formality. The last time the [[prime minister of the United Kingdom]] was unilaterally selected by the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|monarch]] was in 1963, when Queen [[Elizabeth II]] appointed [[Alec Douglas-Home]] on the advice of outgoing Prime Minister [[Harold Macmillan]].

In presidential systems, such as that of the United States, appointments are nominated by the president's sole discretion, but this nomination is often subject to confirmation by the legislature; and specifically in the US, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] has to approve senior executive branch and judicial appointments by a simple majority vote.<ref name="us constitution"/>

The head of state may also dismiss office-holders. There are many variants on how this can be done. For example, members of the Irish Cabinet are dismissed by the [[President of Ireland|president]] on the advice of the [[taoiseach]]; in other instances, the head of state may be able to dismiss an office holder unilaterally; other heads of state, or their representatives, have the theoretical power to dismiss any office-holder, while it is exceptionally rarely used.<ref name=ireland>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/en/constitution/index.html Constitution of Ireland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820000112/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/en/constitution/index.html |date=20 August 2015 }}, Office of the Attorney General (December 2013). Retrieved 3 August 2014.</ref> In [[France]], while the [[President of France|president]] cannot force the [[Prime Minister of France|prime minister]] to tender the resignation of the government, he can, in practice, request it if the prime minister is from his own majority.<ref name=france/> In presidential systems, the president often has the power to fire ministers at his sole discretion. In the United States, the unwritten convention calls for the [[United States federal executive departments|heads of the executive departments]] to resign on their own initiative when called to do so.
* ''Example 1 (parliamentary monarchy):'' Article 96 of the [[Constitution of Belgium]]:
** ''The [[Monarchy of Belgium|King]] appoints and dismisses his ministers.<br />The [[Cabinet of Belgium|Federal Government]] offers its resignation to the King if the [[Belgian Chamber of Representatives|House of Representatives]], by an absolute majority of its members, adopts a motion of no confidence proposing a successor to the [[Prime Minister of Belgium|prime minister]] for appointment by the King or proposes a successor to the prime minister for appointment by the King within three days of the rejection of a motion of confidence. The King appoints the proposed successor as prime minister, who takes office when the new Federal Government is sworn in.''<ref name=belgium>[http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/publications/constitution/grondwetEN.pdf The Belgian Constitution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706134014/http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/publications/constitution/grondwetEN.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Legal Department, [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Belgian House of Representatives]] (August 2012). Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 2 (parliamentary non-executive republic):'' Article 13.1.1 of the [[Constitution of Ireland]]:
** ''The [[President of Ireland|President]] shall, on the nomination of [[Dáil Éireann]], appoint the [[Taoiseach]].''<ref name=ireland />
* ''Example 3 (semi-presidential republic):'' Chapter 4, Section 2 of the [[Constitution of the Republic of Korea]] states:
** ''The [[Prime Minister of South Korea|Prime Minister]] is appointed by the [[President of South Korea|President]] with the consent of the [[National Assembly of South Korea|National Assembly]].''<ref name="south korea"/>
* ''Example 4 (presidential republic):'' Article 84 of the [[Constitution of Brazil]]:
** ''The [[President of Brazil|President of the Republic]] shall have the exclusive power to:''
*** ''I - appoint and dismiss the [[Cabinet of Brazil|Ministers of State]]:''
*** ''XIII -...appoint the commanders of [[Brazilian Armed Forces|Navy, Army and Air Force]], to promote general officers and to appoint them to the offices held exclusively by them;''
*** ''XIV - appoint, after approval by the [[Senate of Brazil|Senate]], the Justices of the [[Supreme Federal Court]] and those of the superior courts, the [[Governor (Brazil)|Governors of the territories]], the [[Attorney General of Brazil|Attorney-General of the Republic]], the President and the Directors of the [[Central Bank of Brazil|Central Bank]] and other civil servants, when established by law;''
*** ''XV - appoint, with due regard for the provisions of article 73, the Justices of the [[Tribunal de Contas da União|Federal Court of Accounts]];''
*** ''XVI - appoint judges in the events established by this Constitution and the [[Office of the Solicitor-General in Brazil|Advocate-General of the Union]];''
*** ''XVII - appoint members of the Council of the Republic, in accordance with article 89, VII''
*** ''XXV - fill and abolish federal government positions, as set forth by law''.<ref name=brazil/>

Some countries have alternative provisions for senior appointments: In [[Sweden]], under the [[Instrument of Government (1974)|Instrument of Government of 1974]], the [[Speaker of the parliament of Sweden|Speaker of the Riksdag]] has the role of formally appointing the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|prime minister]], following a vote in the [[Riksdag]], and the prime minister in turn appoints and dismisses cabinet ministers at his/her sole discretion.<ref name="sweden ig"/>

====Diplomatic role====
[[File:Vladimir Putin with Tekiso Hati.jpg|thumb|Tekiso Hati, ambassador of the [[Kingdom of Lesotho]], presenting his credentials to [[President of Russia|Russian president]] [[Vladimir Putin]]]]
[[File:Shapiro presenting credentials to Peres 2011-08-03.jpg|thumb|[[Daniel B. Shapiro]], [[U.S. Ambassador to Israel|U.S. ambassador to Israel]], presents his credentials to [[President of Israel|Israeli president]] [[Shimon Peres]] on 3 August 2011]]
[[File:Juraj Nemeš letter of credence.JPG|thumb|A 1992 [[letter of credence]], written in French, for the Czechoslovakian Ambassador to [[Lithuania]], signed by the [[president of Czechoslovakia]] and addressed to his Lithuanian counterpart]]

Although many constitutions, particularly from the 19th century and earlier, make no explicit mention of a head of state in the generic sense of several present day international treaties, the officeholders corresponding to this position are recognised as such by other countries.<ref name=unprotocol/><ref name="vienna diplomatic"/> In a monarchy, the [[monarch]] is generally understood to be the head of state.<ref name=unprotocol/><ref name=Robertson:221>[[#Robertson|Robertson]]: p. 221.</ref><ref name=Roberts:35–44>[[#Roberts|Roberts]]: pp. 35–44.</ref>
The [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]], which codified longstanding custom, operates under the presumption that the head of a diplomatic mission (i.e. [[ambassador]] or [[nuncio]]) of the sending state is accredited to the head of state of the receiving state.<ref name=Roberts:71–79>[[#Roberts|Roberts]]: pp. 71–79.</ref><ref name="vienna diplomatic">[http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817151217/http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf |date=17 August 2018 }}, [[International Law Commission]], United Nations. Retrieved on 15 October 2012.</ref> The head of state accredits (i.e. formally validates) their country's [[Ambassador (diplomacy)|ambassador]]s (or rarer equivalent diplomatic mission chiefs, such as [[high commissioner]] or [[papal nuncio]]) through sending formal a [[letter of credence]] (and a Letter of Recall at the end of a tenure) to other heads of state and, conversely, receives the letters of their foreign counterparts.<ref name=Roberts:61-58>[[#Roberts|Roberts]]: pp. 61-68.</ref> Without that accreditation, the chief of the diplomatic mission cannot take up their role and receive the highest diplomatic status. The role of a head of state in this regard, is codified in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations from 1961, which (as of 2017) 191 sovereign states has [[ratification|ratified]].<ref name="vienna diplomatic"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=III-3&chapter=3&clang=_en|work=United Nations Treaty Collection|title=Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations|publisher=United Nations|access-date=27 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315003035/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=III-3&chapter=3&clang=_en|archive-date=15 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, there are provisions in the Vienna Convention that a diplomatic agent of lesser rank, such as a [[chargé d'affaires]], is accredited to the [[minister of foreign affairs]] (or equivalent).<ref name="vienna diplomatic"/>

The head of state is often designated the [[high contracting party]] in international treaties on behalf of the state; signs them either personally or has them signed in his/her name by ministers (government members or diplomats); subsequent [[ratification]], when necessary, may rest with the [[legislature]]. The treaties constituting the [[European Union]] and the [[European Communities]] are noteworthy contemporary cases of multilateral treaties cast in this traditional format, as are the accession agreements of new member states.<ref name=Roberts:542-543>[[#Roberts|Roberts]]: pp. 542-543.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url-status=live |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2007:306:FULL:EN:PDF |title=Treaty of Lisbon (OJ C 306) |date=17 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316084715/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2007:306:FULL:EN:PDF |archive-date=16 March 2013 |journal=[[Official Journal of the European Union]] |publisher=[[EUR-Lex]] |access-date=1 November 2012 |volume=50 |issue=C 306 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/11992M/htm/11992M.html |title=Treaty on European Union (92/C 191/01) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201191729/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/11992M/htm/11992M.html |archive-date=1 February 2009 |work=[[Official Journal of the European Union]] |publisher=[[EUR-Lex]] |access-date=11 November 2012 }}</ref> However, rather than being invariably concluded between two heads of state, it has become common that bilateral treaties are in present times cast in an intergovernmental format, e.g., between the ''Government of X and the Government of Y'', rather than between ''His Majesty the King of X and His Excellency the President of Y''.<ref name=Roberts:542-543/>
* ''Example 1 (parliamentary monarchy):'' Article 8 of the [[Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein]] states:
** ''1) The [[Prince of Liechtenstein|Reigning Prince]] shall represent the State in all its relations with foreign countries, without prejudice to the requisite participation of the responsible [[Cabinet of Liechtenstein|Government]].''
** ''2) Treaties by which territory of the State would be ceded, State property alienated, sovereign rights or prerogatives of the State affected, a new burden imposed on the Principality or its citizens, or an obligation assumed that would limit the rights of the citizens of Liechtenstein shall require the assent of [[Landtag of Liechtenstein|Parliament]] to attain legal force.''<ref name=liechtenstein/>
* ''Example 2 (parliamentary republic):'' Article 59 (1) of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]] states:
** ''The [[President of Germany|Federal President]] shall represent the Federation in its international relations. He shall conclude treaties with foreign states on behalf of the Federation. He shall accredit and receive envoys.''.<ref name=germany/>
* ''Example 3 (semi-presidential republic):'' Title II, Article 14 of the [[French Constitution of 1958]] states:
** ''The [[President of France|President of the Republic]] shall accredit ambassadors and envoys extraordinary to foreign powers; foreign ambassadors and envoys extraordinary shall be accredited to him.''<ref name=france/>
* ''Example 4 (semi-presidential republic):'' Chapter 4, Article 86, Section 4 of the [[Constitution of Russia]] states:
** ''The [[President of the Russian Federation]]:''
*** ''a) shall direct the foreign policy of the Russian Federation;''
*** ''b) shall hold negotiations and sign international treaties of the Russian Federation;''
*** ''c) shall sign instruments of ratification;''
*** ''d) shall receive letters of credence and letters of recall of diplomatic representatives accredited to his (her) office.''<ref name=government.ru/>
* ''Example 5 (single party republic):'' Section 2, Article 81 of the [[Constitution of the People's Republic of China]] states:
** ''The [[President of the People's Republic of China]] receives foreign diplomatic representatives on behalf of the People's Republic of China and, in pursuance of decisions of the [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress]], appoints and recalls plenipotentiary representatives abroad, and ratifies and abrogates treaties and important agreements concluded with foreign states.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.gov.cn/2005-08/05/content_20813.htm |title=Constitution |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726154413/http://english.gov.cn/2005-08/05/content_20813.htm |archive-date=26 July 2013 |website=Chinese Government's Official Web portal |access-date=2 November 2012}}</ref>

In [[Canada]], these head of state powers belong to the [[Monarchy of Canada|monarch]] as part of the [[royal prerogative]],<ref>{{Cite book| last=Alston| first=Philip| title=Treaty-making and Australia: globalization versus sovereignty?| publisher=Federation Press| year=1995| location=Annandale| page=254| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4_HQYFoPCewC| isbn=978-1-86287-195-3}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| last=Bayefsky| first=Anne F.| date=1993| contribution=International Human Rights Law in Canadian Courts| editor-last=Kaplan| editor-first=William| editor2-last=McRae| editor2-first=Donald Malcolm| editor3-last=Cohen| editor3-first=Maxwell| title=Law, policy and international justice: essays in honour of Maxwell Cohen| page=112| location=Montreal| publisher=McGill-Queen's Press| isbn=978-0-7735-1114-9| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7XwU1EvIsAC| access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal| last=Flemming| first=Brian| title=Canadian Practice in International Law| journal=The Canadian Yearbook of International Law| volume=III| page=337| publisher=University of British Columbia Press| location=Vancouver| year=1965| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9LPT_7nv8_IC| access-date=16 January 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412225630/https://books.google.com/books?id=9LPT_7nv8_IC&printsec=frontcover| archive-date=12 April 2016| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=GeoVI>{{Citation| last=George VI| author-link=George VI| date=1 October 1947| title=Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor General of Canada| location=Ottawa| publisher=King's Printer for Canada| url=http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/LettersPatent.html| access-date=29 May 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103619/http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/LettersPatent.html| archive-date=24 September 2015| url-status=live}}</ref> but the [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] has been permitted to exercise them since 1947 and has done so since the 1970s.<ref name=GeoVI /><ref>{{cite web| url=http://archive.gg.ca/gg/fgg/bios/03/02e_e.asp| last=Office of the Governor General of Canada| author-link=Governor General of Canada| title=The Governor General - the evolution of Canada's oldest public institution| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=16 January 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613180418/http://archive.gg.ca/gg/fgg/bios/03/02e_e.asp| archive-date=13 June 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Military role====
{{Main|Commander in Chief}}
[[File:21 juli 2011 Defilé Koning Albert II.png|thumb|[[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]], [[Monarchy of Belgium|King of the Belgians]] inspecting [[Belgian Armed Forces|troops]] on Belgium's [[national day]] in 2011]]
[[File:Nicolas Sarkozy Bastille Day 2008 n1.jpg|thumb|[[Nicolas Sarkozy]], [[President of France]] and General [[Jean-Louis Georgelin]], [[Chief of the Defence Staff (France)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], reviewing troops during the 2008 [[Bastille Day military parade]] on the [[Champs-Élysées]] in [[Paris]]]]

A head of state is often, by virtue of holding the highest executive powers, explicitly designated as the [[commander-in-chief]] of that nation's [[armed forces]], holding the highest office in all military [[chain of command|chains of command]].

In a constitutional monarchy or non-executive presidency, the head of state may [[de jure]] hold ultimate authority over the armed forces but will only normally, as per either written law or unwritten convention, exercise their authority on the advice of their responsible ministers: meaning that the [[de facto]] ultimate decision making on military manoeuvres is made elsewhere. The head of state will, regardless of actual authority, perform ceremonial duties related to the country's armed forces, and will sometimes appear in military uniform for these purposes; particularly in monarchies where also the monarch's consort and other members of a [[royal family]] may also appear in military garb. This is generally the only time a head of state of a stable, democratic country will appear dressed in such a manner, as statesmen and public are eager to assert the [[civilian control of the military|primacy of (civilian, elected) politics over the armed forces]].

In [[military dictatorship]]s, or governments which have arisen from [[coups d'état]], the position of commander-in-chief is obvious, as all authority in such a government derives from the application of military force; occasionally a power vacuum created by war is filled by a head of state stepping beyond the normal constitutional role, as King [[Albert I of Belgium]] did during [[World War I]]. In these and in revolutionary regimes, the head of state, and often [[executive minister]]s whose offices are legally civilian, will frequently appear in military uniform.
* ''Example 1 (parliamentary monarchy):'' Article III, Section 15 of the [[Constitution Act, 1867]], a part of the [[Constitution of Canada]], states:
** ''The Command-in-Chief of the [[Canadian Armed Forces|Land and Naval Militia, and of all Naval and Military Forces, of and in Canada]], is hereby declared to continue to be vested in the [[Monarchy of Canada|Queen]].''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/ca_1867.html|title=The Constitution Act, 1867|access-date=29 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203024121/http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/ca_1867.html|archive-date=3 February 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''Example 2 (parliamentary monarchy):'' Article 25 of the [[Constitution of Norway]] states:
** ''The [[Monarchy of Norway|King]] is Commander-in-Chief of the [[Norwegian Armed Forces|land and naval forces of the Realm]]. These forces may not be increased or reduced without the consent of the [[Storting]]. They may not be transferred to the service of foreign powers, nor may the military forces of any foreign power, except auxiliary forces assisting against hostile attack, be brought into the Realm without the consent of the Storting.''
** ''The territorial army and the other troops which cannot be classed as troops of the line must never, without the consent of the Storting, be employed outside the borders of the Realm.''<ref name=norway>[http://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/The-Constitution The Constitution, as laid down on 17 May 1814 by the Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll and subsequently amended.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515121627/http://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/The-Constitution/ |date=15 May 2012 }}, Information Service, [[Parliament of Norway]]. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 3 (parliamentary republic):'' Chapter II, Article 87, 4th section of the [[Constitution of Italy]] states:
** ''The [[President of Italy|President]] is the commander-in-chief of the [[Italian Armed Forces|armed forces]], shall preside over the Supreme Council of Defense established by law, and shall make declarations of war as have been agreed by Parliament of Italy.''
* ''Example 4 (semi-presidential republic):'' Title II, Article 15 of the [[French Constitution of 1958]] states:
** ''The [[President of France|President of the Republic]] shall be Commander-in-Chief of the [[French Armed Forces|Armed Forces]]. He shall preside over the higher national defence councils and committees.''<ref name=france/>
* ''Example 5 (semi-presidential republic):'' According to Chapter 4, Article 87, Section 1 of the [[Constitution of Russia]]:
** ''The [[President of the Russian Federation]] shall be the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the [[Armed Forces of the Russian Federation]].''<ref name=government.ru/>
* ''Example 6 (presidential republic):'' Article II, Section 2 of the [[United States Constitution]] states:
** ''The [[President of the United States|President]] shall be Commander in Chief of the [[United States Armed Forces|Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States]].''<ref name="us constitution"/>
* ''Example 7 (executive monarchy):'' Article 65 of the [[Constitution of Qatar]] provides that:
** ''The [[Emir of Qatar|Emir]] is the Commander-in-Chief of the [[Qatar Armed Forces|armed forces]]. He shall supervise the same with the assistance of Defence Council under his direct authority. The said Council shall be constituted by an Emiri Resolution, which will also determine the functions thereof.''<ref name=qatar/>

Some countries with a [[parliamentary system]] designate officials other than the head of state with command-in-chief powers.
* In [[Germany]], the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law for the Federal Republic]] vests this authority in the [[Minister of Defence (Germany)|Minister of Defence]] in normal peacetime (article 65a), and that command authority is transferred to the [[Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)|federal chancellor]] when a [[State of Defence (Germany)|State of Defence]] is invoked (article 115b): something which has never happened so far.<ref name=germany>"[https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]", [[Bundestag]] (October 2010). Retrieved on 11 November 2012. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619180331/https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf |date=19 June 2017 }}.</ref>
* In [[Israel]], the [[Basic Laws of Israel|applicable basic law]] states that the ultimate authority over the [[Israel Defense Forces]] rests with the [[Cabinet of Israel|Government of Israel]] as a collective body. The authority of the Government is exercised by the [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|minister of defence]] on behalf of the Government, and subordinate to the minister is the [[Chief of General Staff (Israel)|chief of general staff]] who holds the highest level of command within the military.<ref name="israel bl military">[https://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic11_eng.htm Basic Law of Israel: The Military] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827085026/http://knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic11_eng.htm |date=27 August 2014 }}, [[Knesset]]. Retrieved on 11 November 2011.</ref>

The armed forces of the [[Communist state]]s are under the absolute control of the [[Communist party]].
* In [[China]], the [[Supreme Military Command of the People's Republic of China|command-in-chief]] of the [[People's Liberation Army]] is the [[Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China)|Chairman of the Central Military Commission]], but not the [[President of the People's Republic of China|president of China]], however, in practice, these offices are held by the same person, who is also [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]].