Prime minister of Canada is the leader of Canada's national government. Canada has a parliamentary system of government. Under this system, the monarch of the United Kingdom, who is also the monarch of Canada, is Canada's head of state. An appointed official called the governor general serves as the monarch's representative in Canada. However, the monarch and the governor general primarily carry out formal and ceremonial duties. The prime minister actually directs the government. Traditionally, the prime minister is the leader of the political party that can command a majority in the House of Commons, one of the two houses of the Canadian Parliament.