A head of state, in a sovereign state, is the highest-ranking constitutional position in the

state.[note 1] The head of state is vested with powers to act as the chief public
representative of that state. In most countries the head of state is anatural person, but the
position is held by a body of persons in the Federal Council of Switzerland and
the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while in two other United Nations member
states the position is held by two persons jointly: the Co-Princes of Andorra and
the Captains Regent of San Marino.[1][note 2] The role and functions of the office of head of
state may range from purely ceremonial or symbolic to the real executive power in a state.
The office is usually distinct from a head of government. For example, the distinction is
made in article 7 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, article 1 of
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally
Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents and the United Nations protocol list.[1][2]
[3] Inparliamentary systems like the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany, the monarch and the president are
recognized as their respective heads of state, while the prime ministerand
the chancellor are recognized as the heads of government. [1][4][5] However, in republics
with a presidential system, as in the United States and the Federative Republic of Brazil,
their presidents are recognized as being both heads of state and heads of government. [1]

[6][7]
The role of the head of state generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the
functions and duties granted to the head of state in the country'sconstitution, laws,
unwritten customs, or by their traditions, including the appointment of members of the
government and ambassadors. Before the enactment of the modern French
constitution, Charles de Gaulle described the role he envisaged for the French
presidency by stating the head of state should embody "the spirit of the nation" for the
nation itself and the world and embody "a certain idea about France" (French: une certaine
ide de la France).[8] Today, many countries expect their head of state to carry out their
duties with dignity in a similar fashion.