President Vladimir Putin has dissolved the Russian government on the request of the prime minister, the Kremlin said Wednesday, a major political shakeup that comes less than three months before crucial parliamentary elections. http://newsmax.com/newsfront/russia_government/2007/09/12/31917.html
Incoming 'stupid' question: We don't have a "prime minister", in America Are they elected or appointed? Do some countries have a Prime Minister and no President? I did say it was a stupid question; Why do they have both a 'Prime Minister' and 'President'?
In some countries the president holds the most power, Republican presidential systems The defining characteristic of a republican presidential government is how the executive is elected, but nearly all presidential systems share the following features: The president is both head of state and head of government. The president may not have the ability to legislate directly. He is not a voting member, and may not be allowed to introduce bills. However, in systems such as that of the United States, the president has the power to veto acts of the legislature and, in turn, a supermajority of legislators may act to override the veto. This practice is derived from the British tradition of royal assent in which an act of parliament cannot come into effect without the assent of the monarch. The president has a fixed term of office. Elections are held at scheduled times, and cannot be triggered by a vote of confidence or other such parliamentary procedures. However, many presidential systems incorporate provisions for the president's trial and subsequent removal from office by the legislature if he or she is found to have committed a crime. The executive branch is unipersonal. Members of the cabinet serve at the pleasure of the president and must carry out the policies of the executive and legislative branches. However, presidential systems frequently require legislative approval of presidential nominations to the cabinet as well as various governmental posts such as judges. A president generally has power to direct members of the cabinet, military or any officer or employee of the executive branch, but generally has no power to dismiss or give orders to judges. A power to pardon or commute sentences of convicted criminals is often exercised by heads of states in governments with a separation of power between legislative and executive branches of government. The term presidential system is often used in contrast to cabinet government which is usually a feature of parliamentarism. There also exists a kind of intermediate—the semi-presidential system. Countries with congressional and presidential systems include the United States, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea and most countries in South America, as well as much of Africa and the Central Asian Republics. The widespread use of presidentialism in the Americas has caused political scientists to dub the Americas as "the continent of presidentialism." (Note) There are two presidential examples which do not constitute a republican presidential system. a dictator not popularly or legitimately elected are sometimes styled "president". Likewise, many parliamentary democracies, notably those of Israel and Ireland, have presidents, a position which is largely ceremonial. The present article generally does not apply to that sort of presidency. In others the prime minister holds the most power, where the president has much less power and is "figurehead" head of state, like constitutional monarchs, and not active executive heads of government. In a full-fledged presidential system, a president is chosen by the people to be the head of the executive branch. Presidential governments make no distinction between the positions of head of state and head of government, both of which are held by the president. Most parliamentary governments have a symbolic head of state in the form of a president or monarch. That person is responsible for the formalities of state functions as the figurehead while the constitutional prerogatives of head of government are generally exercised by the prime minister.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_system Hope this helps
Thanks, I should have edited my other post like this: Edit: Of course I know England has a 'Prime Minister', but never knew how the term related to 'President' in Russia (for example)
thanks for the post ... i'm doing an assignment on Putin himself Anyone got any good links, do post here or PM me thanks
Putin has a very high approval rating in Russia as far as I know. I believe the Russians will vote for the one he chooses to replace him. With Putin Russia's economy became 9th in the world, if they elect another good president they may move up the scale. Unfortunately US was supporting Yeltsin the man who played great deal in corrupting Russia. You can hardly find negative words in the west for Yeltsin, but for Putin and his "anti-democratic" rule there are in abundance. (BTW Yeltsin’s presidential campaign was sponsored by US.) Yeltsin, the first Russian president, the guy who hurt the Russians the most and will go down in history as one of the worst Russian leaders (as will go Bush for America) was very much praised in the west. That's one of the reasons why the Russians don't trust the west's lectures on democracy. You can often read how "totalitarian" Putin is in the US media, which IMO is not fair. It is not fair for US to lecture others on democracy for the time being.
It’s his last attempt to control Russian government after he leaves office, not surprised by the move.
People who don't like America will praise Bush and would love to see another Bush in office. People who don't Like Russia will hate to see another Putin in office.