A presidium or praesidium is a council of

executive officer An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer ...

s in some countries' political assemblies that collectively administers its business, either alongside an individual

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

or in place of one. The term is also sometimes used for the governing body of European non-state organisations.

Communist usage

Communist states A communist state, also known as a Marxist–Leninist state, is a one-party state in which the totality of the power belongs to a party adhering to some form of Marxism–Leninism, a branch of the communist ideology. Marxism–Leninism was ...

the presidium is the permanent committee of the legislative body. The

Presidium of the Supreme Soviet The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet () was the standing body of the highest organ of state power, highest body of state authority in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).The Presidium of the Soviet Union is, in short, the legislativ ...

existed after 1936, when the

Supreme Soviet of the USSR The Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (SSUSSR) was the highest body of state authority of the Soviet Union (USSR) from 1936 to 1991. Based on the principle of unified power, it was the only branch of government in the S ...

supplanted the Congress of Soviets of the USSR, as a replacement for the Central Executive Committee which was headed by "the

Presidium of the Central Executive Committee The Central Executive Committee of the USSR (), which may be abbreviated as the CEC (), was the Highest organ of state power, supreme governing body of the USSR in between sessions of the All-Union Congress of Soviets from 1922 to 1938. The Cent ...

". In its place was the

alone, no Central Executive Committee, and from 1938 to 1989, the

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet The Constitution of the Soviet Union recognised the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (between 1938 and 1989) and the earlier Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Congress of Soviets (between 1922 and 1938) as the highest organs of state author ...

was the formal title of the head of state of the USSR until the office of Chairman of the Supreme Soviet was introduced in 1989, later to be replaced by the

President of the Soviet Union The president of the Soviet Union (), officially the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (), abbreviated as president of the USSR (), was the executive head of state of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 15 March ...

in March 1990. The

Republics of the Soviet Union In the Soviet Union, a Union Republic () or unofficially a Republic of the USSR was a Federated state, constituent federated political entity with a List of forms of government, system of government called a Soviet republic (system of governm ...

were each led by Presidiums, such as the

Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic was the collective head of state of the Russian SFSR and the permanent body of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR that was accountable to the Supreme Sovi ...

and the

Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (), referred to between 1991 and 1996 as the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine () was the permanent body of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR then of the ...

, whose chairmen were the ''de facto'' head of state in those republics. From 1952 to 1966, the

Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, abbreviated as Politburo, was the de facto highest executive authority in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). While elected by and formally a ...

was known as the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, but despite the similarity in name with the

, the two Presidia were very different in power and function. The term ''presidium'' is currently used in the

Democratic People's Republic of Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

(

Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA; ) is the legislature of North Korea. It is ostensibly the highest organ of state power and the only branch of government in North Korea, with all state organs subservient to it under the principle of unified ...

) and in the

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

(

Presidium of the National People's Congress The Presidium of the National People's Congress is the presiding body of the National People's Congress when it is in session. Composition It is composed of 178 senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the state, non-Communist p ...

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) is the permanent body of the National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature of the People's Republic of China. It exercises the powers of the NPC when it is not in s ...

; the Chinese word for ''presidium'' is while ''standing committee'' is ). In the same way, the

Workers' Party of Korea The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), also called the Korean Workers' Party (KWP), is the sole ruling party of North Korea. Founded in 1949 from a merger between the Workers' Party of North Korea and the Workers' Party of South Korea, the WPK is ...

is led by the

Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea The Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea, or simply the Presidium, and formerly known as the Standing Committee (1946–61), is a committee consisting of the top leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea. Historic ...

, made up of 5 members or fewer.

Other usage

Asian countries

Bangladesh

In the

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

i political party

Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...

, the Presidium is the innermost or topmost circle of members who are of highest importance within the party.

European countries

Germany

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, the

Presidium of the Bundestag The Presidium of the Bundestag is responsible for the routine administration of the Bundestag, including its clerical and research activities. The presidium consists of the President of the Bundestag and varying number of Vice Presidents, curren ...

consists of a

, who traditionally represents the largest party group, and at least one vice president from each party group. It is responsible for the legislature's routine administration, nowadays including its clerical and research activities. The

Bundesrat of Germany The German Bundesrat (, ) is a legislative body that represents the sixteen ''States of Germany, Länder'' (federated states) of Germany at the federal level (German: ''Bundesebene''). The Bundesrat meets at the former Prussian House of Lords ...

is also led by a

Presidium A presidium or praesidium is a council of executive officers in some countries' political assemblies that collectively administers its business, either alongside an individual president or in place of one. The term is also sometimes used for the ...

, of a President and 2 deputies. Earlier German states also had parliaments led by Presidiums; see

Presidium of the Reichstag (German Empire) Presidium of the Reichstag (German Empire) First legislative session 1871-1874 Second legislative session 1874-1877 Third legislative session 1877-1878 Fourth legislative session 1878-1881 Fifth legislative session 1881-1884 Sixth legisl ...

, Presidium of the Reichstag (Weimar Republic), Presidium of the Reichstag (Nazi Germany) and Presidium of the Volkskammer in

East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

Norway

In the Parliament of Norway, the is led by a

, consisting of a

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

and 5 vice-presidents.

Sweden

The Swedish is also led by a

consisting of a Speaker and 3 deputies.

Greece

The

Hellenic Parliament The Parliament of the Hellenes (), commonly known as the Hellenic Parliament (), is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of Greece, located in the Old Royal Palace, overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens. The parliament is the supreme demo ...

in Greece is led by a

composed of the Speaker, 7 deputies, 3 deans and 6 secretaries.

Poland

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

, the

Sejm The Sejm (), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (), is the lower house of the bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of the Third Polish Republic since the Polish People' ...

is led by the ''Prezydium'', made up of the

Marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

and the Deputy Marshals of the Sejm. The Head of the Chancellery of the Sejm also attends the meetings of the Presidium in an advisory capacity. The Presidium of the

Senate of the Republic of Poland The Senate () is the upper house of the Polish parliament, the lower house being the Sejm. The history of the Polish Senate stretches back over 500 years; it was one of the first constituent bodies of a bicameral parliament in Europe and exist ...

is similarly made up of the

and Deputy Marshals of the Senate. The Senate may elect no more than 4 Deputy Marshals, whilst in the Sejm the number of Deputy Marshals is determined at the pleasure of the house.

Non-state organisations

The Presidium of the

Socialist International The Socialist International (SI) is a political international or worldwide organisation of political parties which seek to establish democratic socialism, consisting mostly of Social democracy, social democratic political parties and Labour mov ...

advises its president and prepares questions for consideration. In Flemish and Scandinavian student organisations, ''presidium'' is an umbrella term for all the chairmen in the organisations' administration. A Presidium headed by a president, elected together quinquennially, governs the

International Association of Wagner Societies The International Association of Wagner Societies (''Der Richard-Wagner-Verband International e.V.'', also known as "Der RWVI") is an affiliation of Wagner societies (''Richard Wagner-Verband'') that promotes interest and research into the works ...

.International Association of the Wagner Societies

Union of International Associations The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a non-profit organization, non-profit non-governmental organization, non-governmental research institute and documentation center based in Brussels, Belgium, and operating under United Nations mand ...

References

{{Reflist Types of organization Politics of North Korea Politics of the People's Republic of China