Editing Head of state (section)

===Legislative roles===
It is usual that the head of state, particularly in parliamentary systems as part of the symbolic role, is the one who opens the annual sessions of the legislature, e.g. the annual [[State Opening of Parliament]] with the [[Speech from the Throne]] in Britain. Even in presidential systems the head of state often formally reports to the legislature on the present national status, e.g. the [[State of the Union address]] in the United States of America, or the State of the Nation Address in South Africa.

Most countries require that all [[bill (proposed law)|bill]]s passed by the house or houses of the legislature be signed into law by the head of state. In some states, such as the United Kingdom, Belgium and Ireland, the head of state is, in fact, formally considered a tier of the legislature. However, in most parliamentary systems, the head of state cannot refuse to sign a bill, and, in granting a bill their assent, indicate that it was passed in accordance with the correct procedures. The signing of a bill into law is formally known as ''[[promulgation]]''. Some monarchical states call this procedure ''[[royal assent]]''.
* ''Example 1 (non-executive parliamentary monarchy):'' Chapter 1, Article 4 of the [[Constitution of Sweden|Swedish ''Riksdag Act'']] provides that:
** ''The formal opening of a [[Riksdag of Sweden|Riksdag]] session takes place at a special meeting of the Chamber held no later than the third day of the session. At this meeting, the [[Monarchy of Sweden|Head of State]] declares the session open at the invitation of the [[Speaker of the Riksdag|Speaker]]. If the Head of State is unable to attend, the Speaker declares the session open.''<ref name="sweden ra">[http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-riksdag-act-2012.pdf The Riksdag Act] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201001248/http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-riksdag-act-2012.pdf |date=1 February 2013 }}, [[Riksdag of Sweden]]. Retrieved on 16 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 2 (parliamentary monarchy):'' Article 9 of the [[Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein]] provides that:
** ''Every law shall require the sanction of the [[Prince of Liechtenstein|Reigning Prince]] to attain legal force.''<ref name=liechtenstein/>
* ''Example 3 (parliamentary republic):'' Section 11.a.1. of the [[Basic Laws of Israel]] states:
** ''The [[President of Israel|President of the State]] shall sign every Law, other than a Law relating to its powers.''<ref name="israel bl president">[https://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic12_eng.htm Basic Law of Israel: The President of the State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020072505/https://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic12_eng.htm |date=20 October 2017 }}, [[Knesset]]. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>
* ''Example 4 (semi-presidential republic):'' According to Chapter 4, Article 84 of the [[Constitution of the Russian Federation]]:
** ''The [[President of the Russian Federation]]:''
*** ''a) shall announce elections to the [[State Duma]] in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal law;''
*** ''c) shall announce referendums in accordance with the procedure established by federal constitutional law;''
*** ''d) shall submit draft laws to the State Duma;''
*** ''e) shall sign and promulgate federal laws;''
*** ''f) shall address the [[Federal Assembly (Russia)|Federal Assembly]] with annual messages on the situation in the country and on the basic objectives of the internal and foreign policy of the State.''<ref name=government.ru/>
* ''Example 5 (presidential republic):'' Article 1, Section 7 of the [[United States Constitution]] states:
** ''Every Bill which shall have passed the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and the [[United States Senate|Senate]], shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the [[President of the United States]]; If he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated... ''<ref name="us constitution"/>
* ''Example 6 (presidential republic):'' Article 84 of the [[Brazilian Constitution]] provides that:
** ''The [[President of Brazil|President of the Republic]] shall have the exclusive power to:''
*** ''III – start the legislative procedure, in the manner and in the cases set forth in this Constitution;''
*** ''IV - sanction, promulgate and order the publication of laws, as well as to issue decrees and regulations for the true enforcement thereof;''
*** ''V - veto bills, wholly or in part;''
*** ''XI - upon the opening of the legislative session, send a government message and plan to the [[National Congress of Brazil|National Congress]], describing the state of the nation and requesting the actions he deems necessary;''
*** ''XXIII - submit to the National Congress the pluriannual plan, the bill of budgetary directives and the budget proposals set forth in this Constitution;''
*** ''XXIV - render, each year, accounts to the National Congress concerning the previous fiscal year, within sixty days of the opening of the legislative session''.<ref name=brazil/>
* ''Example 7 (ruling monarchy):'' Article 106 of the [[Constitution of Qatar]] states:
** ''1. Any draft law passed by the [[Consultative Assembly of Qatar|Council]] shall be referred to the [[Emir of Qatar|Emir]] for ratification.''
** ''2. If the Emir, declines to approve the draft law, he shall return it a long with the reasons for such declination to the Council within a period of three months from the date of referral.''
** ''3. In the event that a draft law is returned to the Council within the period specified in the preceding paragraph and the Council passes the same once more with a two-thirds majority of all its Members, the Emir shall ratify and promulgate it. The Emir may in compelling circumstances order the suspension of this law for the period that he deems necessary to serve the higher interests of the country. If, however, the draft law is not passed by a two-thirds majority, it shall not be reconsidered within the same term of session.''<ref name=qatar>[http://english.mofa.gov.qa/details.cfm?id=80 Constitution of the State of Qatar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041024231923/http://english.mofa.gov.qa/details.cfm?id=80 |date=24 October 2004 }}, [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Qatar)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]. Retrieved on 17 November 2012.</ref>

In some parliamentary systems, the head of state retains certain discretionary powers in relation to bills to be exercised. They may have authority to veto a bill until the houses of the legislature have reconsidered it, and approved it a second time; reserve a bill to be signed later, or suspend it indefinitely (generally in states with [[royal prerogative]]; this power is rarely used); refer a bill to the courts to test its constitutionality; refer a bill to the people in a [[referendum]].

If the head of state also serves as the chief executive, the head of state can politically control the necessary executive measures without which a proclaimed law can remain dead letter, sometimes for years or even forever.