Figurehead

In politics, a figurehead, is a person who holds an important title or office yet executes little actual power, most commonly limited by convention rather than law. The metaphor derives from the carved figurehead at the prow of a sailing ship. Common figureheads include constitutional monarchs, such as: Queen Elizabeth II^[1][2] (who holds all powers of state in her nations, but rarely exercises them), the Emperor of Japan, or presidents in parliamentary democracies, such as the President of Israel.

While the authority of a figurehead is in practice generally symbolic, public opinion, respect for the office or the office holder and access to high levels of government can give them significant influence on events. An example would be Emperor Hirohito's involvement in World War II. In those systems of government where the Head of State is in practice a figurehead, they are also generally the titular commanders in chief of the nation's defence forces, rather than the Head of Government.

Sometimes a figurehead can be exploited in times of emergency. For example, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used the figurehead President of India to issue unilateral decrees that allowed her to bypass parliament when it no longer supported her.

The word can also have more sinister overtones, and refer to a powerless leader who should be exercising full authority, yet is actually being controlled by a more powerful figure behind the throne.

The tendency of this word to drift, like many words that are in a strong process of changed meanings, into the pejorative is beginning to make it unsuitable to apply to a head of state with limited constitutional authority, such that its use may become increasingly inappropriate in referring to monarchs and presidents in parliamentary systems.

• Head of State
• Executive (government)