Editing Head of state (section)

===Complications with categorisation===
[[File:Delhi durbar 1911 2.jpg|thumb|[[George V]], Emperor of India, and Empress Mary at the [[Delhi Durbar]], 1911.]]

While clear categories do exist, it is sometimes difficult to choose which category some individual heads of state belong to. In reality, the category to which each head of state belongs is assessed not by theory but by practice.

Constitutional change in [[Liechtenstein]] in 2003 gave its head of state, the [[Prince of Liechtenstein|Reigning Prince]], constitutional powers that included a veto over legislation and power to dismiss the [[List of heads of government of Liechtenstein|head of government]] and cabinet.<ref name=liechtenstein>[http://www.icla.up.ac.za/images/un/use-of-force/western-europe-others/Liechtenstein/Constitution%20Liechtenstein%202009.pdf Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein (LR 101)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053816/http://www.icla.up.ac.za/images/un/use-of-force/western-europe-others/Liechtenstein/Constitution%20Liechtenstein%202009.pdf |date=8 August 2014 }} (2009). Retrieved on 3 August 2014.</ref> It could be argued that the strengthening of the Prince's powers, vis-a-vis the [[Landtag of Liechtenstein|Landtag]] (legislature), has moved Liechtenstein into the semi-presidential category. Similarly the original powers given to the [[List of Presidents of Greece|Greek President]] under the [[Constitution of Greece|1974 Hellenic Republic constitution]] moved [[Greece]] closer to the French semi-presidential model.

Another complication exists with [[South Africa]], in which the [[President of South Africa|president]] is in fact elected by the [[National Assembly of South Africa|National Assembly]] ([[legislature]]) and is thus similar, in principle, to a [[head of government]] in a [[parliamentary system]] but is also, in addition, recognised as the head of state.<ref name="south africa">[http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/constitution/SAConstitution-web-eng.pdf Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425031318/http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/constitution/SAConstitution-web-eng.pdf |date=25 April 2014 }}, [[Department of Justice and Constitutional Development]] (2009). Retrieved on 3 August 2014.</ref> The offices of [[president of Nauru]] and [[president of Botswana]] are similar in this respect to the South African presidency.<ref name=unprotocol/><ref name=botswana>[http://www.botswanaembassy.org/files/constitution_of_botswana.pdf Constitution of Botswana] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123094902/http://www.botswanaembassy.org/files/constitution_of_botswana.pdf |date=23 January 2013 }}, [[Embassy of Botswana in Washington, D.C.|Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington DC]]. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref><ref name=nauru>[http://www.naurugov.nr/parliament/constitution.html THE CONSTITUTION OF NAURU] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201205104/http://www.naurugov.nr/parliament/constitution.html |date=1 February 2014 }}, [[Parliament of Nauru]]. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.</ref>

[[Panama]], during the military dictatorships of [[Omar Torrijos]] and [[Manuel Noriega]], was nominally a presidential republic. However, the [[List of heads of state of Panama|elected civilian presidents]] were effectively figureheads with real political power being exercised by the chief of the [[Panamanian Public Forces|Panamanian Defense Forces]].

Historically, at the time of the [[League of Nations]] (1920–1946) and the founding of the [[United Nations]] (1945), [[British India|India's]] head of state was the monarch of the United Kingdom, ruling directly or indirectly as [[Emperor of India]] through the [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy and Governor-General of India]].