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The President of the Executive Council ( Irish: Uachtaráin na hArd-Chomhairle) was the title of the prime minister in the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922-37.

Under the Irish Free State Constitution Act, 1922 executive authority was vested in the King and exercised by the Governor-General, who was provided with an Executive Council to 'aid and advise' him. The head of the Executive Council was to be known as the President of the Executive Council.

In reality, the Irish Governor-General as with other Commonwealth governors-general did not have a central role in government, with the dominant figure being the President of the Executive Council. Reflecting the pre-1918 form of the Westminster Model¹ the Irish Prime Minister in practice had limited powers and functions.

1 Key facts about the Office

The President was nominated by the Dáil and appointed by the Governor-General of the Irish Free State (a difference from standard Commonwealth practice, where the Governor-General or monarch commissioned someone to form a government rather than a vote taking place in parliament).

Although he had the power to nominate the vice-president, all other members of the Executive Council had to have the Dáil's formal collective nomination, before being appointed by the Governor-General.

Unlike most contemporary prime ministers, and reflecting pre-1918 constitutional theory, the President of the Executive Council could not dismiss a member of the Executive Council, but had in effect to disband it and reform it to drop a minister.

Unlike most contemporary prime ministers, and reflecting pre-1918 constitutional theory, the President could not request a Dáil dissolution. Only the Executive Council collectively could do that. But if the President lost his majority in the Dáil the Executive Council had to resign. (This produced a theoretical constitutional absurdity in that, if the Executive Council resigned after being defeated, and the Dáil could not agree on a new Council, an absolute stalemate would occur. A government could not be formed by the Dáil. But a new Dáil capable of agreeing on the selection of a new government could not be elected as there would be no government capable of having it dissolved, as an Executive Council defeated by the Dáil was constitutionally debarred from seeing a parliamentary dissolution.

Under Professor Brian Farrell's analysis of Irish prime ministers, published under the title Chairman or Chief?, the President of the Executive Council had little option but to be a chairman, with the principal power possessed by the Executive Council collectively. However a strong leader could exercise authority beyond the limits laid down in the 1922 Constitution.

2 Presidents of the Executive Council

No	Name	Born	First elected	Party	Constituency	Assumed office	Left office	Left Dáil Éireann	Died
1.	W.T. Cosgrave	June 6, 1880	AugustSee August (album) for the album by Eric Clapton. August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days. Named in honor of Augustus Caesar. The month reputedly has 31 days because Augustus wanted as many days as Julius Caesar's Ju, 1917Events January 2 The Royal Bank of Canada takes over Quebec Bank. January 22 World War I: President Woodrow Wilson calls for "peace without victory" in Europe. January 25 The Danish West Indies is sold to the United States for $25 million January 25 Anti-	Cumann na nGaedhaelCumann na nGaedhael (League of the Gaels) was an Irish language name given to two Irish political parties. The first Cumann na nGaedhael was founded by Arthur Griffith in 1904 to campaign against a visit by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra to Ireland.	CarlowCarlow ( Irish: Ceatharlach meaning "four lakes") is an inland town in the south-east of Ireland in County Carlow, some 85 km (53 miles) from Dublin. The River Barrow flows through the town. The town numbers about 20,000 people 3,000 of which are students - KilkennyKilkenny ( Irish: Cill Chainnigh is the county seat of County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. Located on the River Nore, it is the only city in Ireland which is not a county borough, and the only city which is not tidal in the republic. The National Univer	December 6December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 25 days remaining. Events: 1534 Spanish found Quito, Ecuador 1768 First edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica is published 1790 United States Congress mov, 1922Events January 7 Dali Eireann ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64-57 votes. January 10 Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dail Eireann January 11 First successful insulin treatment of diabetes. January 12 British government releases Irish prisoners	March 9March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). There are 297 days remaining. Events 1841 The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Amistad case that the Africans who seized control of the ship had been taken, 1932	February 4, 1948	November 16, 1965
2.	Eamon de Valera	October 22, 1882	December 14, 1918	Fianna Fáil	Clare	March 9, 1932	December 29, 1937	June 23, 1959	August 29, 1975

The Office of President of the Executive Council was replaced by that of Taoiseach under Ireland's 1937 Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann

Preceded by: President of the Republic ² (1921-22) answerable to Dáil Éireann	Irish Prime Ministerial Offices Irish Constitutional Theory	Succeeded by: Taoiseach (1937 - present)
Preceded by: Chairman of the Provisional Government (1922) answerable to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland	Irish Prime Ministerial Offices British Constitutional Theory	Succeeded by: Taoiseach (1937 - present)

3 Notes

¹ Up to 1918 the British Prime Minister's powers within the Westminster Model of government were theoretically quite limited. Under David Lloyd George, however from 1918 the Prime Minister's role within the Westminster Model increased, as Lloyd George unilaterally claimed additional powers for himself that had previously belonged to the cabinet, most dramatically, the power to seek a dissolution. The Free State constitution reflected pre-Lloyd George constitutional theory on the powers of a prime minister. In contrast the later Irish constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, reflected post Lloyd George concepts of prime ministerial power.
²Arthur Griffith (Jan-Aug 1922) opted not to call himself President of the Republic but President of Dáil Éireann

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