Prime ministers and presidents: A survey of the differing rhetorical possibilities of high office

Traditional, structural, and cultural differences shape the public acts of presidents and prime ministers in clearly different ways. The rise of television and the decline of the American party structure has particularly altered the presidential workload to include more public appearances emphasizing conventional values and unifying themes. A British prime minister, in contrast, enjoys greater party discipline, and can more deftly explore the myriad possibilities of a “low profile.”