Prime Minister of Rainier
| Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Rainier | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Style | The Right Honourable |
| Residence | Lennox House, Rainier, Rainier |
| Nominator | House of Councillors |
| Appointer | President of Rainier |
| Term length |
4 years or earlier, renewable. The House of Councillors of Rainier must be dissolved every 4 years or earlier by the Prime Minister. The person who commands the confidence of a majority of members of the House of Councillors will become the Prime Minister. |
| Inaugural holder | Alfred Henry Lawson |
| Formation | 12th March 1865 |
| Salary | £125,000 |
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Rainier is the chairman of the Cabinet of Rainier and by extension the head of government of Rainier. The current Prime Minister is Alexander Llewellyn of the Labour Party who took office on the 10th September 2017.
The position of Prime Minister was created upon the granting of dominion status in Rainier in 1865. Since then it has asserted itself as the most powerful position within Rainier's government. In the last 50 years the position of Prime Minister has evolved from a first-amongst-equals to a more presidential office with the ultimate authority over executive affairs. Since the implementation of a republican government in 1988 the Prime Minister is ranked as the third most powerful office in terms of precedence (after the President and the Speaker of the House of Senators) but de facto is recognised as the main executive authority.
The Prime Minister of Rainier is officially appointed by the President, who must appoint a candidate nominated by the House of Councillors. The House of Councillors and House of Senators must both pass a vote of no confidence to remove a Prime Minister.
Unlike many other parliamentary republics the Rainian Prime Minister serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
History
Powers and duties
Selection process
The Prime Minister is nominated by the House of Councillors with a simple-majority ballot being conducted whenever there is a vacancy. Once the Prime Minister's candidacy is approved by a majority of MP's the House of Senators conducts a similar vote - if the House of Senators rejects a nomination from the lower house the President grants Parliament a week to approve of a candidate. If no consensus is reached the lower house's nomination is automatically granted. The President then formally approves of the candidacy - if the President rejects the nomination from parliament the President and parliament are given a week to come to a consensus - ultimately however if no consensus is reached the House of Councillors nomination automatically becomes Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister can only be removed through an impeachment, presenting their resignation to the president or losing a vote of no confidence in both houses of parliament. If one house passes a successful vote of no confidence but the other does not the Prime Minister remains in office. In the role of an immediate vacancy of the Prime Minister the President may appoint a sitting MP to chair a caretaker cabinet until parliament nominates a candidate for prime minister.