Table of Contents

Executive: concept, functions and types

Table of Contents

Theoretical overview

The executive is the second but the most powerful and important organ of the government. It is the organ which implement the laws passed by the legislature.

Executive includes the head of the state, vice president and council of minister with the prime minister etc.

Executive is often referred to as the government.

The president: a candidate for the office of president of India must be a citizen of India who has completed the 35 year of age. The president of India holds the office for a 5 year term and can be re-elected. The president is elected by the elected member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The process to remove president is called impeachment.

The vice president: the vice president of India is elected for the period of 5 years by all the members of the house of parliament by single transferable vote system. the vice president is the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha he/she perform the same function in the Rajya Sabha as the speaker of the Lok Sabha does.

Union council of minister: a/c to the constitution of India, there shall be a council o0f minister headed by the Prime Minister. It will aid and advise the president in the exercise of his/her function. The council of minister is responsible to the popularly elected lower house of the parliament i.e Lok Sabha . the council of minister comprises of prime minister , the cabinet minister and minister of state. 

Functions of executive

  1. Enforcement of laws: the primary function of executive is to enforce law and to maintain law and order in the state.  Each government department is responsible for the implementation of the laws and policies concerning its work. For maintaining law and order in the state, the executive organises and maintains the police force.
  2. Appointment making function: the president is the head of the executive, he appoints the judges of the high court, supreme court he also appoints the ambassadors ,advocates general of India, governor of India etc.
  3. Diplomatic function: diplomatic function relates to foreign relation. In modern time no nation can live in isolation it has to promote and maintain friendship with other counties it also help in signing the treaty.
  4. Military function: one of the key function of executive is to protect the territory from the war. It is in the hand of executive to declare war and conclude peace.
  5. Financial function: he executive exercises a number of financial functions. It has the responsibility to prepare the budget. It proposes the levy of new taxes or changes in tax structure and administration.

Types of executive

  1. Nominal and real executive:- the head of state, the President or the Monarch, is the nominal executive and the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister is the real executive. The nominal executive is not responsible for its actions as these are performed in its name by the real executive. The real executive is responsible for all the actions of the nominal executive. The nominal executive is the ceremonial and dignified part of the executive, whereas the real executive is its powerful part.
  2.  Hereditary and Elected Executives: When the executive assumes office by the law of hereditary succession, it is called the hereditary executive. When the executive is directly or indirectly elected by the people for a fixed period or even for life, it is called the elected executive. In Britain, Japan and Malaysia there are hereditary chief executives. In India, USA, Germany and many other states there are elected chief executives.
  3. Single and plural executive:When all the executive powers are in the hands of a single functionary/leader, it is called a single executive. In India, Britain, USA, Australia, France and many other states there are single executives. In India, all the executive powers are with the President of India. When the executive powers are vested with a group of persons is called the Plural Executive. As for example, in Switzerland all the executive powers have been given to the Federal Council which consists of seven members. All the members collectively exercise all the executive powers.
  4. Parliamentary and president: in a parliamentary executive, there are two important post like head of state and head of government. These two posts are handled by two different person. Such type of executive is parliamentary executive. E.g. India, Britain, Germany, Italy. Presidential executive there are two important posts like head of state and head of government .These two posts are handled by one person only. Such type of executive is presidential executive.
  5. Political executive and permanent executive: If the executive of a country is elected for a definite period is called political executive. E.g. Government . If the executive of a country is appointed for permanent period of time such executive is called permanent executive.

Points to remember

  1. The executive is the second but the most powerful and important organ of the government. It is the organ which implement the laws passed by the legislature.
  2. Executive includes the head of the state, vice president and council of minister with the prime minister etc.
  3. There are several functions of the executive such as enforcement of law, appointment making function, diplomat function, military function, financial function.
  4. There are 5 type of executive: nominal and real executive, hereditary and elected executive, political n permanent executive, parliamentary n president , single n plural executive.

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