Titular ruler

Atitular ruler,ortitular head,is a person in an official position of leadership who possesses few, if any, actual powers.^[1]Sometimes a person may inhabit a position of titular leadership and yet exercise more power than would normally be expected, as a result of theirpersonalityor experience. A titular ruler is not confined to political leadership but can also reference any organization, such as acorporation.

Etymology

Titular is formed from a combination of theLatintitulus(title) and theEnglishsuffix-ar,^[2]which means "of or belonging to."^[3]

Usage

In mostparliamentary democraciestoday, thehead of statehas 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'sconstitutionbut is no longer able to exercise them because of 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

Napoleon IIwas briefly titularEmperor of the Frenchafter his father's second abdication in 1815.
Emperor ShōwaofJapanremained as a titular ruler after theJapanese surrenderinWorld War II.^[4]
The presidents of bothIsraelandIrelandhave largely ceremonial duties and are regarded as titular leaders.
ThePresident of Chinaalone is largely ceremonial with limited power, when not simultaneously holding theCCP General Secretaryposition.^[5]

Not to be confused with "eponym"

A common confusion is with the word and concepteponym.This means that an institution, object, location, artefact, etc., takes its name or title from the particular person. For example,Simon Bolivaris not the titular ruler of theBolivarian Republic of Venezuelabut its eponym.

References

^""Titular" — Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary ".Merriam Webster.2008.Retrieved2008-06-25.
^Robert K. Barnhart, ed. (1988).Chambers Dictionary of Etymology.New York: Chambers Harrap Publishers. p. 1146.ISBN 0-550-14230-4.
^""-ar" Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary ".Merriam Webster.2008.Retrieved2008-06-25.
^"Michinomiya Hirohito".eHistory.The Ohio State University, Department of History.Retrieved2018-09-20.
^Buckley, Chris; Wu, Adam (10 March 2018)."Ending Term Limits for China's Xi Is a Big Deal. Here's Why".New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 12 March 2018.Retrieved1 December2019.In China, the political job that matters most is the general secretary of the Communist Party. The party controls the military and domestic security forces, and sets the policies that the government carries out. China's presidency lacks the authority of the American and French presidencies.

[1] ""Titular" — Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary ".Merriam Webster.2008.Retrieved2008-06-25.

[2] Robert K. Barnhart, ed. (1988).Chambers Dictionary of Etymology.New York: Chambers Harrap Publishers. p. 1146.ISBN 0-550-14230-4.

[3] ""-ar" Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary ".Merriam Webster.2008.Retrieved2008-06-25.

[4] "Michinomiya Hirohito".eHistory.The Ohio State University, Department of History.Retrieved2018-09-20.

[5] Buckley, Chris; Wu, Adam (10 March 2018)."Ending Term Limits for China's Xi Is a Big Deal. Here's Why".New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 12 March 2018.Retrieved1 December2019.In China, the political job that matters most is the general secretary of the Communist Party. The party controls the military and domestic security forces, and sets the policies that the government carries out. China's presidency lacks the authority of the American and French presidencies.

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