Titular ruler

Titular ruler

__NOTOC__A titular ruler, or titular head, is a person in an official position of leadership who possesses few, if any, actual powers. [cite web |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/titular |title="titular" Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary |accessdate=2008-06-25 |date=2008 |publisher=Meriam Webster] Sometimes a person may inhabit a position of titular leadership and yet exercise more power than would normally be expected, as a result of their personality or experience. A titular ruler is not confined to political leadership but can also reference any organization, such as a corporation.

Etymology

Titular is formed from a combination of the Latin "titulus" (title) and the English suffix "-ar", [cite book |title=Chambers Dictionary of Etymology |editor=Robert K. Barnhart |year=1988 |publisher=Chambers Harrap Publishers |location=New York |isbn=0-550-14230-4 |pages=1146 ] which means "of or belonging to." [cite web |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-ar |title="-ar" Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary |accessdate=2008-06-25 |date=2008 |publisher=Meriam Webster]

Development

In most democratic countries today, the Head of State has either evolved into, or was created as, a position of titular leadership. In the former case, the leader may often have significant powers listed within the state's constitution, but is no longer able to exercise them, due to historical changes within that country. In the latter case, it is often made clear within the document that the leader is intended to be powerless. Heads of State who inhabit positions of titular leadership are usually regarded as symbols of the people they "lead."

Examples

*The democracy of the United Kingdom under the Prime Minister who executes most official powers, but the British monarch possesses limited powers and only has a ceremonial and constitutional role in Britain nowadays, as most official powers have been devolved to the Prime Minister who can declare war with the support of Parliament; a practice formerly only in the possession of the Sovereign.

*Emperor Hirohito of Japan remained as a titular ruler after the Japanese surrender in World War II. [cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IAV/is_1_96/ai_n19295862 |title=Cultural awareness: cross-cultural interaction today |accessdate=2008-06-25 |last=Wojdakowski |first=Walter |work=Infantry Magazine |publisher=BNET |date=January/February 2007]

*The Presidents of both Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany have largely ceremonial duties and are regarded as titular leaders.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Titular — means existing in title only. *Titular ruler *Titular head (film festival) *Titular (Catholicism) bishop or titular cardinal, holder of a titulus, titular see or titular bishopric …   Wikipedia

  • titular — adj. & n. adj. 1 of or relating to a title (the book s titular hero). 2 existing, or being what is specified, in name or title only (titular ruler; titular sovereignty). n. 1 the holder of an office etc. esp. a benefice, without the corresponding …   Useful english dictionary

  • Titular bishop — Bishop Bish op, n. [OE. bischop, biscop, bisceop, AS. bisceop, biscop, L. episcopus overseer, superintendent, bishop, fr. Gr. ?, ? over + ? inspector, fr. root of ?, ?, to look to, perh. akin to L. specere to look at. See {Spy}, and cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • titular — tit|u|lar [ˈtıtʃulə US ər] adj [only before noun] [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: titulus; TITLE] titular head/leader/monarch etc someone who is the official leader or ruler of a country but who does not have real power or authority …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • titular — adjective (only before noun) titular head/leader/monarch etc someone who is the official leader or ruler of a country but who does not have real power or authority …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • List of rulers of Hungary — This is a List of rulers of Hungary, which includes the grand princes (895–1000), the kings (1000–1918), and regent Miklós Horthy (1920–1944). For a list of presidents until present day, see List of heads of state of Hungary. Contents 1 Rulers of …   Wikipedia

  • Leonardo III Tocco — Leonardo III Tocco, last ruler of Epirus from 1448 to 1479.LifeLeonardo III Tocco was the son of Carlo II Tocco (count of Cephalonia and Zante, duke of Leukas, and ruler of Epirus) and Ramondina of Ventimiglia. On his father s death in October… …   Wikipedia

  • Zhang Xuanjing — (張玄靚) (350 363), courtesy name Yuan an (元安), formally Duke Jingdao of Xiping (西平敬悼公, posthumous name given by Jin Dynasty (265 420)) or Duke Chong of Xiping (西平沖公, posthumous name used internally in Former Liang) was a ruler of the Chinese state… …   Wikipedia

  • Iraq — /i rak , i rahk /, n. a republic in SW Asia, N of Saudi Arabia and W of Iran, centering in the Tigris Euphrates basin of Mesopotamia. 22,219,289; 172,000 sq. mi. (445,480 sq. km). Cap.: Baghdad. Also, Irak. * * * Iraq Introduction Iraq Background …   Universalium

  • 1374 — Year 1374 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.Events* April 23 In recognition of his services, Edward III of England grants the English writer Geoffrey Chaucer a gallon of wine a day… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”