Editing Executive (government) (section)

==Ministers==
[[File:Vanhasen II hallitus.JPG|thumb|[[Vanhanen II Cabinet]] in a session of [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]] in 2007]]
In [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] systems, the executive is [[Motion of no confidence|responsible]] to the elected legislature, which must maintain the confidence of the legislature or one part of it, if bicameral. In certain circumstances (varying by state), the legislature can express its lack of confidence in the executive, which causes either a change in the governing party or group of parties or a general election. Parliamentary systems have a head of government (who leads the executive, often called [[Minister (government)|ministers]]) normally distinct from the head of state (who continues through governmental and electoral changes). In the [[Westminster system|Westminster type of parliamentary system]], the principle of separation of powers is not as entrenched as in some others. Members of the executive ([[Minister (government)|ministers]]), are also members of the legislature, and hence play an important part in both the writing and enforcing of law. In [[presidential system]]s, the directly elected head of government appoints the ministers. The ministers can be directly elected by the voters.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Buchs |first1=Aurélia |last2=Soguel |first2=Nils |date=2022-04-01 |title=Fiscal performance and the re-election of finance ministers–evidence from the Swiss cantons |journal=Public Choice |language=en |volume=191 |issue=1 |pages=31–49 |doi=10.1007/s11127-021-00949-z |s2cid=246371550 |issn=1573-7101|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In this context, the executive consists of a leader or leader of an office or multiple offices.  Specifically, the top leadership roles of the executive branch may include:
* [[head of state]] – often the [[monarch]], the [[President (government title)|president]] or the supreme leader, the chief representative and living symbol of national unity.
** [[head of government]] – often the [[prime minister]], overseeing the [[Administration (government)|administration]] of all affairs of state.
*** [[defence minister]] – overseeing the [[armed forces]], determining military policy, and managing external safety.
*** [[interior minister]] – overseeing the [[police forces]], enforcing the law, and managing internal control.
*** [[foreign minister]] – overseeing the [[diplomatic service]], determining [[foreign policy]] and managing [[foreign relations]].
*** [[finance minister]] – overseeing the treasury, determining [[fiscal policy]] and managing [[national budget]].
*** [[justice minister]] – overseeing criminal prosecutions, corrections, enforcement of court orders.