- published: 17 Nov 2015
- views: 2064
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both positions are "number two" offices. The position of deputy prime minister should not be confused with the Canadian office of the Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister of Canada, which is a non-political civil servant position (Nor does the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada act as a "number two"). The states of Australia and provinces of Canada each have the analogous office of deputy premier. In the devolved administrations of the United Kingdom, an analogous position is that of the deputy first minister.
A deputy prime minister traditionally serves as acting prime minister when the real prime minister is temporarily absent or incapable of exercising his/her power. For this reason the deputy prime minister is often asked to succeed to the prime minister's office following the prime minister's sudden death or unexpected resignation, although this is not necessarily constitutionally mandated.
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime minister is the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet. In a minority of systems, notably in semi-presidential systems of government, a prime minister is the official who is appointed to manage the civil service and execute the directives of the head of state.
In parliamentary systems fashioned after the Westminster system, the prime minister is the presiding and actual head of the government and head of the executive branch. In such systems, the head of state or the head of state's official representative (i.e. the monarch, president, or governor-general) usually holds a largely ceremonial position, although often with reserve powers.
The prime minister is often, but not always, a member of parliament and is expected with other ministers to ensure the passage of bills through the legislature. In some monarchies the monarch may also exercise executive powers (known as the royal prerogative) which are constitutionally vested in the crown and may be exercised without the approval of parliament.
Building an innovative society: Deputy PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce screams "carp" & "mud-sucking creatures"
MALAYSIA: SACKED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ANWAR LATEST (2)
Budapest Open 2013 Show Debate - Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Opposition
John Prescott UK's Deputy Prime Minister
Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Åsa Romson cries during a press conference
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Visits Brunei
Hon. Fiame Mata'afa - Samoa Deputy Prime Minister
An investigative interview: Singapore 50 years after independence - 45th St. Gallen Symposium
MALAYSIA: MAHATIR ANNOUNCES NEW DEPUTY PRIME - MINISTER