Party leader

In a governmental system, a party leader acts as the official representative of their political party. The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public. As such, they will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election platforms, to the electorate. They are also typically the public face of the respective party and the principal media contact.

In many representative democracies, party leaders compete directly for high political office. It is thus typical in such states (e.g., in the Westminster system) for the party leader to seek election to the legislature, and, if elected, to simultaneously serve as the party's parliamentary leader.

Canada

In Canada, all parties are selected by voting during their leadership elections.

China

The leaders of Communist Parties often hold the title of General secretary (e.g. General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China) and the officeholder is usually considered the paramount leader of China. On 15 November 2012, Xi Jinping was appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party of China at the 18th Communist Party national congress.^{[1] [2]}

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the party leaders are the most senior politicians within the political parties in the Netherlands. The leaders outwardly act as the 'figurehead' and the main representative of the party. Within the party, they must ensure political consensus. At election time the leader is always the Lijsttrekker (top candidate) of the party list. Outside election time the leader can serves as the Opposition leader. Geert Wilders, the Leader of Party for Freedom, is the Leader of the Opposition. In the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Labour Party (PvdA) the leader is often the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. Leaders became a Minister in a Cabinet.

United Kingdom

The method of selection of the party leader varies from party to party, though often it will involve an election involving all or part of the party membership. In some parties, only current members of the parliamentary party, or particular party office-holders, may vote; in others, such as the British Labour Party, though the entire membership is eligible to vote, some electors may have a much larger share of the vote than others (see also Superdelegate for a similar concept). If only one candidate emerges, he or she is said to have been "elected by acclamation" or "ratified" by the general membership (sometimes the term "anointed" occurs informally or in media discourse).

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, gained the position on 13 July 2016; she had served as the party leader of the Conservative Party since 13 July 2016. Jeremy Corbyn is the party leader the Labour Party, serves as the Leader of the Opposition.

United States

The United States government has party leaders in both the executive and legislative branches. The President, currently Donald Trump, becomes the de facto leader of the party they represent once elected, and the Vice President, currently Mike Pence, likewise holds a leadership role as both the second-highest executive officer as well as being the President of the Senate.

The legislative branch, otherwise known as the United States Congress, is made up of the upper chamber, the Senate, and the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, with party-elected leaders in each. The leader of the party with most the representation (sometimes called the party-in-power) in each case is known as the majority leader, whereas the leader of the opposing party with the most members is known as the minority leader.

Party leaders in the United States Senate have been elected by popular vote since 1913. They currently include President of the Senate Mike Pence, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate Orrin Hatch, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn on the Republican side, and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin.

The Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives are elected by their respective parties in the House by secret ballot. The Republican Party is currently represented in the House by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Majority Whip Steve Scalise, whereas the Democratic Party is represented by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. In the House of Representatives, the most powerful official is the House-elected Speaker, currently Paul Ryan of the Republican Party.

The Democratic Party is currently chaired by Tom Perez.

See also

• Party secretary
• Party chair

References