'The American President is the executive, whereas the British Prime Minister is merely the head of government.' How significant is this distinction?

Article II of the US constitution states: "executive power shall be invested in a President". It then goes on to define the role with formal powers and limitations. Conventionally, the British Prime Minister has been the "first among equals", and the uncodified British constitution does little in the way of definition of the office. These roles seem very different in potential power and influence, with the President embodying the executive, and the Prime Minister merely …

…as that of the President. References: Dunleavy, P. et al (eds) (2003) Developments in British Politics 7 (Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan). Dye, T. and Zeigler, H. (2000) The Irony of Democracy (Fort Worth, Harcourt). Kavanagh, D. 'New Labour, New Millennium, New Premiership' and Riddell, P. 'Blair as Prime Minister' in Anthony Seldon (ed), (2001) The Blair Effect (UK, Little, Brown and Company). Singh, R. (2003) American Government & Politics (London, Sage). Watts, D. (2002) American government and politics (Manchester, Manchester University Press).