is the figurehead in charge of the boat?

I couldn't have said it better myself... The president of my country is a former ship captain, so this guy really knows all about being in charge of the boat. Now, concerning who really is in charge around here, the president really has most of the power, he even got to name whoever he wanted in the government (not officially, of course, but he had the appropriate leverage to do that). So around here the president is in charge and that is something sinister considering he has absolutely no interest in the nation's prosperity, but in his own welfare and in those of all the people supporting him, that need to be rewarded accordingly.

Very easy to answer. The party with the most slush money gets elected and then the people who gave them the money get the contracts etc and have the most say. Politically corrupt where I live, under the guise of democracy.

I suspect that in fact first of all the lobbyists are in control, as they represent the money, the money filters to Congressmen, who then appear to be in control

If you really mean the figurehead then in India, the president is just that…a figurehead with no real powers. S/he is just paid a illogically fat amount with all the perks and advantages of the colonial era just to grace occasions and smile sweet and pose for photo-opps…total loss of public money. The PM here yields absolute power...s/he is known as the first among the equals i.e. the first among the cabinet colleagues! However right now, the world’s largest democracy is going thru a very curious phase. Usually the head of the ruling party takes the cake (PM’s post i.e.) but right now the ruling party is the Congress and its chairperson is a very charming and intelligent lady called Sonia Gandhi (nee Maino, Italian by birth), who very graciously and with great far-sightedness, declined to be the PM and appointed another equally competent person as the PM. However, its open knowledge that she actually pulls the strings and she’s not doing a bad job of it either.

In a democratic country, the figurehead is just that, and is a SERVANT of the PEOPLE. Who holds the power? The people! If only the people KNEW it and used their democratic rights to let their voice be known to influence the figurehead, their servant. Well, it is a nice dream. They say the people get the government they deserve.

In America the president does have a little power via the veto. However, the real power in America belongs to the supreme court. That's why I'm glad they are trying to make the court a bit more diverse with representation of the populace.

corporations, no doubt...

The ones who have the money think they have the power, and for the most part they do.

It is the money. That's all that matters to politicians anymore. Money = re-election.

I am from Chile. In theory, and according to the Constitution, in my country there are 3 well defined powers. We have a presidential system, a legislalive that works as a paralel power (makes the laws)a bicameral legislature known as National Congress and the judiciary which constitutes an autonomous and independent branch of government not subject to any other. As I write, it all sounds quite well done. But the Constitution does not speak of the power held by people who have great amounts of money. And this Constitution, made during Pinochet´s dictatorship has lots of gaps that were meant to mantain him forever. We just had a President election. I am worried. For the first time since Pinochet is out of power, there will be a very right hand and VERY rich President. I wonder if he will rule for the chileans or for himself. But I also feel that center and more leftist parties are to blame. They had the control of the Presidency for 20 years and the heads of the parties did not change. They were too happy to have power again and they did not prepare a younger generation of politicians that would have more appeal to voters. Our present President, a woman, was the exception to the rule. But the Constitution forbids a 2 term presidency. I´m sure she would have won if we had had that posibility. I don´t know if I answered you question. I think the real leaders in the world are the owners of the money (be it corporations or other kinds of groups of power) and partys.

Crap. Since you have not gotten any bites on this discussion yet, I will tentatively venture in here and give my guess ... erm, I meant informed opinion. The figurehead for our country has some power, yes, but the real power to make things happen lies with the legislature. Of course, if the figurehead is very persuasive, then that makes it easier for him or her (hey, it could happen that we will have a her someday) to get things done, but that person still has limitations to his or her power. I actually think that the corporations that have deep pockets and fund the political special interest groups (a.k.a. the lobbyists) have the most power, because it is all about the money (and money generally equals power in politics), but that is just my opinion.

I'm from the UK. Gordon Brown is nominally in charge, but he certainly doesn't hold a great deal of power - the various plots and rebellions have left him quite isolated (if the papers are to be believed). I think Mandelson holds a lot of power (sadly), as well as various other shadowy figures who let calamity Broon take the fall for just about everything that goes awry. Obviously, big business (corporations, whatever) holds real power - is it any surprise, therefore, that the government has consistently shafted its citizens on behalf of the pinstriped suit?

For many Asian countries, their most influential parties nrmaly the goverment.However, the system suggest toward authocratics than democratics in terms of decision making.Though the govt itself selected democratically.When they are in the state of power, they don't even bother what the people have to say about their policies or approach. Even running business should have good link with the govt( read : politicians). So it about WHO YOU KNOWS, rather than WHAT DO YOU KNOW. It's not wrong to have such big powers as long as it is not being misued by any means.